The Pearl Necklace.

Patrick, now old and wise, woke to an ocean of fears,
A mountain of dread, with only a glib smile through tears,
He held thirteen cold silvery gems in his frail hand, 
A necklace with Akoya pearls on a white silken band,
It had belonged to his beloved wife who passed away, 
As he touched each pearl a feint ghostly vision would play,
The first was a beautiful young woman with golden hair,
He couldn’t see her clearly but he knew she was there.
 
“Chase me down through the valley chase me down to the sea,
I might let you catch me, under the old banyan tree.”

Poor ancient Patrick drew the carcanet to his chest, 
And laid his tired head on a feathered pillow to rest.

A soft plume of time passed and he woke again and smiled, 
He held the second pearl, tight, like a little child.
There stood a black stallion whose rider made him kick,
The dark man shouted from on high like a magic trick, 

“Run you loathsome coward, run you sad apology, 
I will run you to the ground under the banyan tree.”

Shivering with terror Patrick curled up on the floor.
He dropped the necklace, afraid to hold it anymore.

The next morning the white light opened his weary eyes, 
Not a soul in the building had heard his mournful cries,
He was dizzy and his troubled mind was in a whirl,
Yet he could not stop himself from touching the third pearl.
Soon an angel appeared above him and spoke softly,
She seemed to know of him and needed to speak sweetly,
“Come with me, my darling, come with me to the sea, 
I will sing you calming psalms under the banyan tree.”

He quickly held the fourth gem as joy rose within fear, 
It was a child with a cheeky grin from ear to ear, 
“Come with me my dear father, come with me to the sea, 
I will win at hopscotch, under the old banyan tree.  

His clear memories shined like the lucent moon above, 
As he left his lonely abode and wandered in love.
Ages passed, it seemed, and he reached the azure ocean, 
He longed to see his dearest beyond the world of men,
A dark storm came over him and he looked for shelter. 
His bare clenched toes were soon washed with salty blue water.

Patrick laid down on the sand clutching the fifth white gem,
After a few seconds a strange woman  approached him, 
“Come with me, my son, come away from the sea, 
And I will protect you, under the banyan tree.”

As the moon rose to its highest point he woke again,
Patrick searched for the necklace but it began to rain.
All he could find was one last lonely pearl on the sand.
He picked up the last pearl and held it tight in his hand.
A dim vision of a beautiful lady appeared.
“ Is that you Estelle? I can’t quite see. This is so weird”
“ Don’t be scared. Listen to the choir. Patrick it’s me”
“ I seem to have lost the necklace. I am so sorry.”
“ That old thing. I hated it. Always gave me a rash”
“The best thing to do is throw it out with all the trash.
“ Give me your hand Patrick. It’s time for your eyes to see.”
“Come with me, now, my dearest, come with me to the sea.
Come let us dance, one last dance under the Banyan Tree.”