"Ebony Rose"

Walking along my garden one day
I came across among the marigolds
A black flower of exquisite beauty
With diamond gleam it's quite to behold

Black satin for petals
Velvet to the touch
Fragrance of myrrh dancing along the path
Proudly it stand defiant

She is a dream
A vision of my long lost African queen
Supple beauty of delicate creation
As it dance among the breeze I bowed and said "My queen"

To my surprise in low whisper it speaks
"Dear gentle cavalier, brave knight of Camelot
Free a poor rose of it's bonds
For reward your consort I will be"

Careful of the thorns of dagger sharpness
I pluck the ebony rose off it's perch
Laying it among the grass of the garden
As it grew toward the heaven in woman form

"What is thy name dear lady
So I could address thee proper
My queen you will be from now on
Speak to me so I can name beauty"

"My dear Sir Daryl
The beat of my heart
You can call me Sylvia
Daughter of the sun and the earth"

"Dear Lady Sylvia I extend my hand
Will you guide me among the garden
To finish this walk I started
Among the flowers you will be my only rose"

And that my friends ends the tale
How the last ebony rose came to earth
For heaven's greatest creation
And the last to walk the realm of men

Commisioned '95