For Leslie

“Once, long ago, I dreamed of love—and I thought it must be beautiful—and now—it’s like this.” —Leslie Moore in Anne’s House of Dreams

Anne’s House of Dreams, by L.M. Montgomery, is probably one of my five favorite novels. This poem was inspired by the story of Leslie Moore, one of the people Anne and Gilbert get to know when they live in their house of dreams.
I won’t give any of the story away, but encourage you to read it yourself...

For Leslie

When I was young, I dreamed of roses,
The crimson witnesses of love;
The songs I’ve sung all told a tale
Of flames once lit that burned forever;

But now I hold a rose unlike
The roses I was dreaming of;
No story told the pain I feel,
The tears I cry were not described—

The petals faded—joy was lost—
The thorns have grown, and pierce my heart
My smiles were traded for the cross
And now I know its scalding fire;

This love hurts more than anything,
But still I could not wish it gone—

...For through the door of love there’s life,
God will work good from this someday…