The Measure of Lovee
by Julien DuBrow

About the author

Julien holds a Master’s degree in theology and is a spiritual director and artist. She lives in the Bay area with her husband and two dogs.

Blue sapphire ring shone bright

in the window

with a price tag bigger than her car¹s.

She smiled as he put his arm around her,

talked of their engagement and this ring.

It glistened in the window, brilliant

as diamonds, deeper than rubies.

Then, the ring began to sing.

A lullaby at first,

ancient Persian rhyme,

conjuring images of precious desert lotus,

a baby wrapped and rocked in a shelter of palms.

She smiled, leaned her head closer,

cold against the glass.

It sang of dark caverns, the earth, buried, hidden,

covered by swift winds.  Treasure.

The word came to her as she pressed her hand flat,

envisioning the stone, his voice

like a dove calling to its mate

and the ring cooing back.