A Girl Named Radiance

"A GIRL NAMED RADIANCE" - Marisa Mills

One dark and sleepless night, I lay in bed with great impatience,

As I bid the elusive sleep to come grace my weary eyes.

I heard the rain fall on the roof, beating out a gentle cadence,

And still in vain, I turned in my bed, scowling in disdain.

Why can one so weary not have sleep to dull the senses?

And then finally I gave up the fight and left my bed.

I would go sit in my study.

As I drifted through the house, I smelled a sweet fragrance;

The scent lingered, sharp yet sweet, like ylang-ylang and lavender.

Curious, I stood, breathing in the hauntingly familiar incense.

I wondered why that certain perfume still wafted on by.

Was it merely the figment of a feverish mind?

I heard a sound—not loud, but as a whisper on the wind.

I saw a shadowed figure.

The shadow lengthened before my eyes, and I whispered, “Radiance.”

It was an odd name, but perfect for such a lovely lady.

Alas, my love! I miss you so! I miss the way you used to dance,

My lovely dove, as luminous as an angel above!

Against dark Death’s hungry, withered hand you had no chance,

But it couldn’t be; Shakespeare’s words came to me—

Something wicked this way comes!

The shadow cleared before my poor, burning eyes—my Radiance!

She stood, looking not quite alive, but as a slight, pale phantom.

Her midnight-blue eyes, a starless night, gave a familiar glance.

The hair—the hue I remembered—fire red, was the same, too.

Heart aquiver, I reached longingly with no patience,

To stroke the soft peaches of her cheeks, a soft beseech—

She didn’t reach back for me.

Hurt, I stood-still and halted my apparently ill-thought advance.

“Radiance,” I whispered, but she gave me no answer at all.

Mutely, she watched me, my love turned a creature of Gothic romance.

“My love?” I inquired, “Why do you tarry here and haunt my dreams?”

“I do not wish to haunt your dreams,” replied Radiance.

Her voice as a winter’s wind, and clear as a drop of dew,

Unlike the soft coo I recalled.

“Then, please, explain what force brought you here, my beloved Radiance!

A purer soul there never was, that even angels can’t compare!

Why would you be bound here with me in this world of decadence?

Is it because I still desire you to be here with me?

Your countenance once enchanted me, made me entranced,

But now  leaves me frightened; please, I beg you—cease your haunting!

I can’t bear to see you dead!”

Lightning illuminated the room, filling it with radiance,

And as the light faded, and my dazzled eyes could see again,

I beheld no pale ghost—no Radiance!

A horrid, frightful dream! I thought. It must have been a dream!

It was just a dream of my once lovely Radiance.

Surely, my ghostly dream was not real as it had seemed!

Then, I heard a gentle murmur—

Thank you, as a whisper on the wind.

BIO: Marisa Mills spends her time writing poetry, short stories, and fantasy novels. When Marisa's not writing, she's reading.