Merle Oberon
by Michael Doyle

It doesn't matter what screen she's on
Here's to the legendary Merle Oberon
In 1935, she set eyes and minds reeling
Playing the heroine with thought and feeling

South Asian, yet with Javanese eyes
Her ascent had come with some surprise
As Goldwyn made her his dark angel to tantalize
She became the first colored actress to rise

Kolkata born she became a star of Hollywood
She was dead 10 years before it was understood
A pioneer of color-blind casting accidentally right
It was a secret was hidden from us all in plain sight

Her starry eyes would look down to silently glisten
Telling beautiful secrets if we would only listen
Not to be discounted but perhaps given some compassion
Oberon was Asian before such a thing was in fashion

A mixed-race child forced to experience alienation
From India, she arose the result of a studio's creation
Destined as exotic looking from her tarnished youth
She gave her all to pursue her vision of artistic truth

Society's torments provides its multiple cautionary tales
As the psychological will for troubled desires prevail
Hostility set the terms with its need to cautiously hide
What in the present time we would proudly confide

(c) March 1, 2025   Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved