LINDA: a poem

Her beauty warms, in a world that's cold-
Her bloodline, regal, steady and long-
Though her people were bought and sold-
She still stands bold and strong-

Her words, all true and full of light-
I read them with conviction-
but there are those who gnaw and bite-
and try to push their fiction-

Those sick of mind and bleak of heart-
knew nothing of respect-
or how their words tore her apart-
What darkness, they reflect-

But then the Queen, she spoke to me-
Her smile, I could not find-
until I said, please stay with me-
and leave the fools behind-

Now she's here, this blessed soul-
and I am blessed to know her-
I said her smile is my true goal-
and I intend to show her-

Linda, thank you for your smile-
You humble me with kindness-
You've made this man from Sudan's Nile,-
call you "Her royal highness"-

For a precious friend. She won a contest and this was her prize.
~Jalil