In London Town Poem by Bryan Norton

In London Town, a babe was born
The object of a woman's scorn
The lady Margaret, much reviled
Who won the fight, but lost the child

She had a daughter, Mary Grace
Who came to love, with no disgrace
A handsome lad, and thoughtful too
Who brought the joy, that Mary knew

Her mother, Margaret, kicked her out
To please a man she cared about
And so Miss Mary lost the score
And lost the boy forevermore

For when she grew with great success
Her mother, Margaret, made the mess
That falsified a young man's fate
And left him in a sorry state

When Oliver was put in jail
Because he could not raise the bail
He knew that freedom, ever sweet
Was now a charge, he could not beat

And so he languished in a cell
The victim of a living hell
For nothing more than you could know
By how he loved the maiden so

When Seraphine was sent to Earth
To be the fruit of Mary's birth
She landed in an awful spot
Where Mary Grace and Grandma fought

They fought like enemies or foes
Where someone leaves or wins the blows
For love not full, is less in parts
It comes and goes, and then departs

For Mary Grace who lost the perch
A merry face became the search
To find a place where strangers meet
Who face the dangers of the street

Their ragged friends were good and kind
To share a piece of bacon rind
But men of wealth and ladies too
Would pass them by like pigeon stew

And yet, dear Mary liked to joke
And laugh all day with happy folk
Who stopped to say, "How very sweet"
And bless the baby by the street

When Seraphine was half past three
Her mother walked more sparingly
And stopped to rest a little more
Although she never said what for

Her laugh was not so deep and free
And she would sleep increasingly
With no or very little food
To match her less resilient mood

Now once upon the break of day
When Seraphine woke up to play
Her mother fed her jam and bread
To give her strength to move ahead

The summer sun was beating down
As they moved quickly through the town
The trip they took was long and hard
With barking dogs in every yard

Though Seraphine was not yet four
She never walked so far before
Or faced the dangers, still unknown
Of strangers she had never known

The sun above was setting fast
As both of them sat down at last
To rest beneath a shady tree
And share each other's company

They sat against a garden gate
Where beauty matters more than fate
And flowers bloom but never last
Except for those who dream the past

When Mary held her daughter tight
It helped them both to stay upright
And with a deep, determined strength
She found the words to speak at length

"Dear Seraphine, my one true joy
Brighter than a baby toy
Fresher than a summer rain
Giving in a world of gain

Blooming like a tulip Spring
Happy as a garden swing
Busy as a Bumble Bee
Welcome as a shady tree

Pretty as a lovely tune
Beaming like a lover's moon
Silly as a funny face
Loving in a sweet embrace

Gentle as a summer breeze
Tender as a tiny sneeze
Caring like a cup of soup
Warming up a Carole group

Bubbly as a mountain stream
Sweeter than a baby dream
Loving me both day and night
Nothing new could be more right

If Heaven's light is good and true
May every star reflect in you
That in your eyes the world may see
The kind of person we can be

Somebody noble, brave, and just
But virtuous to earn our trust
A leader who the people seek
To save the poor and lift the meek

A servant to the broken man
Who did the best a person can
But finished last and met defeat
To join the beggar in the street

Precious child, your heart is good
For I have loved thee as I should
And should I choose to love thee more
I could not know or think what for

For truly I have loved you best
And placed your needs above the rest
The desperate angels of the night
Who lose their wings but stay in flight

So twinkle on, my little star
More lovely for the one you are
More beautiful than heaven's sight
The vision of my guiding light

Remember, love, the poor to bless
By giving more, and keeping less
To build a world, with God's own light
Where every soul is loved on sight

And Seraphine, this heart of mine
Is more than true by what you shine
For you have made my days complete
By all the ways you make them sweet

But though my heart prefers to stay
According to the words I pray
Somebody, near, is calling me
To take me home, where I must be

And from that green hill far away
My love for you will grow each day
And keep you here, inside my heart
To grow as one, and not apart

In this old home, your future lies
Where Grandma needs you more than guys
For she is lonely, letters say
By how she pushed us both away

And so, my spirit, borne of wings
Will take me where my future springs
To somewhere near, where skies are blue
And all my dreams, are dreams of you."