By Michael Avery
One of the many things I experienced while living in Hawaii when I was in my late twenties happened on the Island of Kauai. I saw the most beautiful rainbow I had ever seen. Rather than eliciting a feeling of joy, I felt an indescribable longing stir deep within my heart. I was longing for a love that I could not identify.
As I gazed up at the magnificent rainbow arching across the sky, I wondered: Where is the other half, the part that would make it complete. Shortly thereafter, I wrote the following poem.
The Other Half of the Rainbow
I couldn’t find you then
I couldn’t name the longing in my heart
Not even when the golden harvest moon
Would find me all alone
Warmed by a fire I somehow couldn’t place
From some dim yesterday
Or destined tomorrow
But then one day God sent a sign
Above a lonely hilltop on Kauai
I saw a rainbow glistening in the sun
Its beauty was sublime, yet deep inside
I heard my heart cry out
For one, for one
Then in a dream you came
Across a bridge that disappeared in time
You were an eagle poised upon a branch
I was the sunlight dancing on your wing
And as we kissed
I felt our hearts ignite
At times I sought for shelter in the storm
And took my solace in a lover’s bed
But soon within the aftermath I’d find
Another fading rainbow with an end
At times I followed blindly in the night
Some distant star that passion set ablaze
Then like a ray of hope your love would come
And lead me from the ashes, phoenix-like
Often I would dream of how we’d meet
You’d catch my eye across a crowded room
I’d steal you from a diplomat in Spain
Then sweep you off to Istanbul by night
And often I’d awaken from my dreams
To find your presence lingering in the air
Then doubt would steal the hope I hid so well
And leave me wondering if we’d ever meet
Then quietly you came
Across a moonlit field of whisper grass
You were an eagle weary from the storm
I was the wind that soothed your aching wings
And as we touched
I felt our Soul unite
Beyond a bridge that disappeared in light
____________________
In 2019, I bought a beautiful gold frame and gave this poem to Pichaya for Christmas.
Gloria Lionz
Magnificently poignant, Michael! Your beloved must have been as joyful to meet you as she was to receive your stunning poem!
Just a note: you may want to edit the post as the 2nd stanza’s first line should probably be 2?
But then one day God sent a signAbove a lonely hilltop on Kauai
LOVED the images too!!
Gloria
Michael Avery
Yes, thank you for catching that, Gloria. I changed it. I’m looking forward to posting your rainbow-theme story and poem soon! It seems that everything is coming up rainbows! Let’s take it as a prophetic waking dream that brighter days are coming for us and the world!
Lewis Carroll
Beautiful poem, Michael, and I understand its sentiment completely. And I’m glad that you finally found her.
Sammie
How beautiful this is …very touching!
Sammie
MY SECOND ATTEMPT TO CONVEY HOW BEAUTIFUL AND TOUCHING THIS IS.
AI APPARENTLY THOUGHT MY FIRST COMMENT WAS TOO SIMILAR TO GLORIA’S AND DELETED IT.
SO I WILL JUST AGREE WITH GLORIA … LOL
Sammie
Duplicate comment detected; it looks as though you’ve already said that!
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A- I WON’T LET ME POST A COMMENT!
Michael Avery
Thank you for your comment, Lewis. As a footnote, before marrying Pichaya, I was single for twenty years. I had to wait out the storm before the rainbow could appear.
Michael Avery
Sammie, thanks for the note. I didn’t realize that anyone or “anything” was monitoring the comments so judiciously.
As I mentioned in my note to Lewis, love doesn’t always come along when it’s convenient for us, but when the timing lines up. But I’m realizing there’s always love available to us from multiple sources once we learn to love ourselves first. Pichaya has been a wonderful teacher for me!