Grannus Brings Life
© Surazeus
2017 12 26
Pushing open the wood slab frozen stuck,
Sucellus peers from chimney of the hearth
at the mountain valley covered in snow.
"So much snow fell over the past twelve days
that our feasting hall is buried in snow
up to the roof, so our doors are stuck tight."
Gazing a long time at the winter scene,
Sucellus stares enchanted by the moon
that glitters silver in the purple night.
Shivering at the blast of wind in his face,
Sucellus climbs back down the chimney shaft,
and stares at his whole family lying dead.
Sucellus huddles by the cold stone hearth
and listens to the winter winds howl bleak
like demons wailing in dark caves of gems.
Shivering in the shadowy gloom of night,
Sucellus blows on embers in the ash
but their soft orange glows vanish in the gloom.
He reaches out to touch the cold pale face
of his mother, but her blue eyes stare blank
at nothing beyond the roof of their house.
"Wise Sirona, mother who made my soul,
how often you called my name in the sun,
but now your sweet voice is forever mute."
Floating in the blackness of freezing gloom,
Sucellus sighs at the horror of death
that squeezes his heart till it almost stops.
Strange knocking sound jolts him from dream of snow
as if huge demon stomps at dread despair
on the roof that rattles in dim gray gloom.
Sharp glow of light beams down the chimney shaft
as if bright star has fallen from the sky
and blinds his eyes in flash of pure white light.
Shielding his eyes, Sucellus blinks and gasps
when bearded man in long red cloak appears,
dropping down into the ash of the hearth.
"Ho, ho, ho!" shouts the bearded man who smiles
with delight, and his eyes twinkle bright silver
when he sees the boy huddled in the dark.
"How glad I am to see you still alive,
though you are almost starved to death, I see,
one child alone from your whole village lost.
My name is Grannus, master of the springs
that bubble warm at the great citadel
of Aquae Granni, where my father ruled."
Clutching the arm of the large bearded man,
Sucellus tries to speak with raspy voice,
"We ate all our food so they starved to death.
We could not finish harvesting more food
because the cold winds blasted from the sky
two months earlier than in all previous years.
Snow fell for countless days and blocked our doors
so we could not go out to gather wood,
fill buckets of water, or dig for roots."
Dropping large bag and firewood on the floor,
Grannus drapes large wool cape around the boy,
then checks each person to find signs of life.
Frowning in sorrow, Grannus gives starved boy
fresh apple, so he bites it with delight,
and feels sweet life sparkle within his heart.
Smiling in relief, Grannus stacks firewood.
"I brought this bag of food for all to eat
so I will start warm fire and cook you stew."
Grannus strikes flint stones to spark flashing fire
that crackles in the frigid gloom of death,
and soon beams sweet glow of warmth in the room.
Together Grannus and Sucellus feast,
eating roast hen, cabbage stew, and wheat bread,
while drinking apple cider spiced with mint.
When they are stuffed and resting by the fire,
Grannus pulls large wooden horse from his bag
and gives it to Sucellus with warm smile.
The young boy gallops horse around the room,
proclaiming, "Sons of Belenus, join me
to fight for liberty against the Romans!
My father told me stories of his youth
when he joined strong Vergobretus Sedullos
to help Vercinus drive the Romans out.
Though Vercinus Geta Rex and his men
died defending Alesia from invaders
my father escaped dressed like a werewolf."
Leaning over the old man with long beard
who lies dead, Sucellus touches his face.
"Feast well, Father Abellius, in Valhalla."
Resting large hand on shoulder of the boy,
Grannus smiles, "Since you are now all alone,
Sucellus son of courageous Abellius,
who defended our freedom from the Romans,
join me as I journey across the land
and visit other villages like yours
to bring food and wood to people like you
who are freezing and hungry in the dark.
Help me bring good cheer to every lost soul."
Sucellus helps him pack and climbs the ladder,
then both emerge from the chimney to stand
in bright gold sunlight flashing on the snow.
Sitting in the large sleigh pulled by reindeer,
Sucellus holds on tight when Grannus snaps
long leather reins to urge the reindeer run.
The sleigh glides swift and silent over snow
among the pine trees standing in the sun
past towering peaks of mountains in the sky.
"I feel as if I rose again from death,
buried in the silent tomb of my home,
where my family still lies in chilling death.
Two days ago I lay still in the dark,
among dead bodies of my family,
but now I fly across the silver clouds.
How swift we soar as if on eagle wings
among the clouds of snow that sparkle gold,
and I breathe deep the flushing wind of life.
Like the flower that blooms again in spring,
and pokes its head through snow in warm sunlight,
I am born again from your generous love.
How like the shining sun your face appeared
when you descended from the chimney hearth
and brought bright apples of the sun for me.
I live again in the light of your love."
© Surazeus
2017 12 26
Pushing open the wood slab frozen stuck,
Sucellus peers from chimney of the hearth
at the mountain valley covered in snow.
"So much snow fell over the past twelve days
that our feasting hall is buried in snow
up to the roof, so our doors are stuck tight."
Gazing a long time at the winter scene,
Sucellus stares enchanted by the moon
that glitters silver in the purple night.
Shivering at the blast of wind in his face,
Sucellus climbs back down the chimney shaft,
and stares at his whole family lying dead.
Sucellus huddles by the cold stone hearth
and listens to the winter winds howl bleak
like demons wailing in dark caves of gems.
Shivering in the shadowy gloom of night,
Sucellus blows on embers in the ash
but their soft orange glows vanish in the gloom.
He reaches out to touch the cold pale face
of his mother, but her blue eyes stare blank
at nothing beyond the roof of their house.
"Wise Sirona, mother who made my soul,
how often you called my name in the sun,
but now your sweet voice is forever mute."
Floating in the blackness of freezing gloom,
Sucellus sighs at the horror of death
that squeezes his heart till it almost stops.
Strange knocking sound jolts him from dream of snow
as if huge demon stomps at dread despair
on the roof that rattles in dim gray gloom.
Sharp glow of light beams down the chimney shaft
as if bright star has fallen from the sky
and blinds his eyes in flash of pure white light.
Shielding his eyes, Sucellus blinks and gasps
when bearded man in long red cloak appears,
dropping down into the ash of the hearth.
"Ho, ho, ho!" shouts the bearded man who smiles
with delight, and his eyes twinkle bright silver
when he sees the boy huddled in the dark.
"How glad I am to see you still alive,
though you are almost starved to death, I see,
one child alone from your whole village lost.
My name is Grannus, master of the springs
that bubble warm at the great citadel
of Aquae Granni, where my father ruled."
Clutching the arm of the large bearded man,
Sucellus tries to speak with raspy voice,
"We ate all our food so they starved to death.
We could not finish harvesting more food
because the cold winds blasted from the sky
two months earlier than in all previous years.
Snow fell for countless days and blocked our doors
so we could not go out to gather wood,
fill buckets of water, or dig for roots."
Dropping large bag and firewood on the floor,
Grannus drapes large wool cape around the boy,
then checks each person to find signs of life.
Frowning in sorrow, Grannus gives starved boy
fresh apple, so he bites it with delight,
and feels sweet life sparkle within his heart.
Smiling in relief, Grannus stacks firewood.
"I brought this bag of food for all to eat
so I will start warm fire and cook you stew."
Grannus strikes flint stones to spark flashing fire
that crackles in the frigid gloom of death,
and soon beams sweet glow of warmth in the room.
Together Grannus and Sucellus feast,
eating roast hen, cabbage stew, and wheat bread,
while drinking apple cider spiced with mint.
When they are stuffed and resting by the fire,
Grannus pulls large wooden horse from his bag
and gives it to Sucellus with warm smile.
The young boy gallops horse around the room,
proclaiming, "Sons of Belenus, join me
to fight for liberty against the Romans!
My father told me stories of his youth
when he joined strong Vergobretus Sedullos
to help Vercinus drive the Romans out.
Though Vercinus Geta Rex and his men
died defending Alesia from invaders
my father escaped dressed like a werewolf."
Leaning over the old man with long beard
who lies dead, Sucellus touches his face.
"Feast well, Father Abellius, in Valhalla."
Resting large hand on shoulder of the boy,
Grannus smiles, "Since you are now all alone,
Sucellus son of courageous Abellius,
who defended our freedom from the Romans,
join me as I journey across the land
and visit other villages like yours
to bring food and wood to people like you
who are freezing and hungry in the dark.
Help me bring good cheer to every lost soul."
Sucellus helps him pack and climbs the ladder,
then both emerge from the chimney to stand
in bright gold sunlight flashing on the snow.
Sitting in the large sleigh pulled by reindeer,
Sucellus holds on tight when Grannus snaps
long leather reins to urge the reindeer run.
The sleigh glides swift and silent over snow
among the pine trees standing in the sun
past towering peaks of mountains in the sky.
"I feel as if I rose again from death,
buried in the silent tomb of my home,
where my family still lies in chilling death.
Two days ago I lay still in the dark,
among dead bodies of my family,
but now I fly across the silver clouds.
How swift we soar as if on eagle wings
among the clouds of snow that sparkle gold,
and I breathe deep the flushing wind of life.
Like the flower that blooms again in spring,
and pokes its head through snow in warm sunlight,
I am born again from your generous love.
How like the shining sun your face appeared
when you descended from the chimney hearth
and brought bright apples of the sun for me.
I live again in the light of your love."
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