CINQUAINS

I

So soon

the summer sun

fades in the sky and dies.

So soon man's youth is gone and life

Is done!

II

Strangely

the voice of one

who's dead remains in mind.

A quiet restful voice that calms

the heart.

III

What men!

The strong, tall ones

who build steel tow'rs sky high

And drink and laugh and fight in bars

at night!

IV

It seems

that only yes-

terday the skies were grey

and you and I have only met

today.

May 26, 1939

V

Dreamer,

sailing seas of

misty blue and shadow,

tell us how far the Ship of Life

can sail?

VI

The years

go on and on

crawling slowly at first

from Christmas to birthday, and then,

leaping.

VII

Oh, God,

Thy Power here,

on this high mountain peak,

Is felt through silent thunder in

my soul!

January, 1940

VIII

Enter!

My soul cries out

to your young heart with joy,

praying that you will heed its cry

or go.

IX

Love comes,

Opens heart's door

softly as a stranger

entering a deserted house

unseen.

X

Spring night!

My love is new

and the starlight glitters

like tiny diamonds before the

moonrise.

January, 1940

XI

The sea

endlessly turns

page after page of its

history upon the sands of

the beach.

February 29, 1940

XII

Tonight

there are five worlds

outside the Earth to see.

They're dead, but we also shall die

someday.

XIII

Gazing

into spaceless

seas of ether, I think

and my thoughts are vague as facts

of spheres.

March 2, 1940

XIV

Blue night

creeps over day

and nestles close to Earth,

its head upon her throbbing heart,

to sleep.

XV

Thunder

resounds. The gods

must be angry among

themselves, roaring furious with

their rage.

XVI

Judas

gave a kiss to

Hi and saved the world We

despise him, yet we are all worse

tritors.

XVII

Despise

not him who thinks

not that your work is good,

but, rather, try to gain his grace

at last.

March 5, 1940

XVIII

My life

is uncertain

since you have gone away

and left me no alternative

but death.

XIX

the sun

is for joy and

happiness, but the moon

give her consolation to those

who grieve.

XX

Love you?

Does not the bee

know on his very first

day that flow'rs are made to give him

his life?

XXI

Violets

blooming in the

shadiest little dell

know secrets only hearts in love

can tell.

March 6, 1940

XXII

How strange

My love is. The

more I give to you, it

seems, the more for youI have in

my heart.

March 7, 1940

All Twenty-Two Cinquains by Madge Hall Thomas (nee Myrtice Talmage Hall)

(Twenty-two! The same number as the Major Arcana of the Tarot.)