A Gentleman and Father’s Dream

A gentleman, weary, lays down his head,
He gives his beloved sleep so deep,
Where moonlight softens her silken bed.
Yet in his mind, doubts do creep.

A life once bold, a tale once grand,
A bouquet left—a bunch of roses,
Now drifts away, did he ever understand–
the token given, the love that discloses.

He thinks of the babies’ christenings, bright,
A change of menu, born in triplet,
of prayers once murmured in sleepless night,
A feast of words he can’t forget.

Yet still, in dreams, he longs to be
of a station high, on a mountain steep,
a sailor free on the open sea.
a thousand miles he swore to keep.

Through an evening in idyll affair,
He wonders if, at fate’s command,
as he sees black swans take to the air,
If he’ll find his youth or ever understand.

At last, the dawn awakens as babes cry low,
And as he stands with boots worn thin,
The dawn brings melting frost, melting snow.
He smiles—been there before, and again.

This piece carries a beautiful blend of nostalgia, introspection, and quiet resilience. It feels like a tribute to the sacrifices and dreams entwined with fatherhood, the yearning for adventure, and the contentment found in life’s humble routines. The recurring imagery of dawn and melting frost evokes renewal and perseverance—a recognition that life’s complexities are softened by moments of simple, familial joy.

The interplay between the gentleman’s restless dreams of “a sailor free on the open sea” and the grounded reality of “babes cry low” captures the push-and-pull of aspirations versus responsibilities. The black swans taking to the air add a touch of mystery, hinting at the elusive nature of life’s meaning and the delicate balance of hope and acceptance.

Sarah B Royal’s poetry resonates with themes that feel universal—love, legacy, and the way time shapes our understanding of happiness.