In the mid
1920’s Langston Hughes was working as a busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel in
D.C. where he encountered American poet Vachel Lindsay. Hughes shared some of
his poetry with Lindsay, who dubbed him the busboy poet – and the rest is
history.
The food was
excellent, the atmosphere eclectic, the book selection was small with a
distinct focus.
It all leads
up to this, an original poem that I wrote a few years ago for my daughter. I was never a busboy.
The Fading Realm
By J.E. Fountain
There are times I feel that all the world
Is asleep
That God and I alone keep the watch
But of course it is only a dream
The world turns
And God seems to manage without me
But then there are those times late at night
All my realm
Lies quiet and I savor the peace
Lord and guardian I survey my keep
All are safe
With no cause for alarm they all sleep
The Queen, my companion and my friend
Feels me stir
Half asleep she chides "don't be too late"
But I cherish the dark and quiet
And she knows
There are burdens I carry alone
If the princes are home, which grows rare
I find them
I can hear them breathe; it is enough
Soon they must begin their own crusade
I am sad
But not dismayed; they are well prepared
And last I will visit the princess
She sleeps quiet
And I lose track of time at her side
Soon I will no more be what I have
Always been
The most important man in her life
May God grant that I will be gracious
To the man
That cannot hope to be found worthy
But he will try, and she will believe
As she should
And I need rise no more in the night
The queens voice breaks the spell and bids me
Come to bed
For a moment longer I tarry
Trembling hands caress the princess' cheek
I kiss her
Good night Sweetheart, sleep well, I love you
Is asleep
That God and I alone keep the watch
But of course it is only a dream
The world turns
And God seems to manage without me
But then there are those times late at night
All my realm
Lies quiet and I savor the peace
Lord and guardian I survey my keep
All are safe
With no cause for alarm they all sleep
The Queen, my companion and my friend
Feels me stir
Half asleep she chides "don't be too late"
But I cherish the dark and quiet
And she knows
There are burdens I carry alone
If the princes are home, which grows rare
I find them
I can hear them breathe; it is enough
Soon they must begin their own crusade
I am sad
But not dismayed; they are well prepared
And last I will visit the princess
She sleeps quiet
And I lose track of time at her side
Soon I will no more be what I have
Always been
The most important man in her life
May God grant that I will be gracious
To the man
That cannot hope to be found worthy
But he will try, and she will believe
As she should
And I need rise no more in the night
The queens voice breaks the spell and bids me
Come to bed
For a moment longer I tarry
Trembling hands caress the princess' cheek
I kiss her
Good night Sweetheart, sleep well, I love you
Sleepily, dreamily, "Good night Daddy"
"I love you"
All is well
"I love you"
All is well
© 2015 Joseph E. Fountain
Aww. Very sweet! I am so grateful to know there are fathers who understand the importance of their presence in and protection of the lives of their daughters!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSweet poem! My friends love to visit Busboys & Poets for the poetry sessions. I've always walked by but forget to go in. I will one of these days.
ReplyDeleteYeah...you should go.
Delete