THE ROSE OF SHARON
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She dreams. She dreams that they are in the first house they bought. The pipes creak, their furniture is secondhand, Jimmy makes her favorite spaghetti sauce every Friday night, and Claire is a baby.
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
In the dream, though, all of the light bulbs in their new house are flickering. They keep burning out. This isn't how she remembers it...
Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
Rain starts up and spills down the window panes. She is looking out over their tiny backyard, where Jimmy has been building a sandbox for their daughter, where she'll be able to play when the weather is warmer. She's already crawling.
His left hand is under my head, and his right hand clasps me
And then he is there: her husband, solid, real. The baby isn't crying. He must have put her down for her nap.
My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
She thinks she could stay here forever.
The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
She knows she can't stay here.
My beloved is mine, and I am his; until the day break, and the shadows flee away.