After Rapunzel Escapes

After Rapunzel Escapes
© Surazeus
2024 12 20

After Rapunzel escapes tall stone tower 
where Pluto had kept her his prisoner, 
she climbs barefoot across the jagged rocks 
where roaring ocean waves burst into spray, 
shivering in thin dress as she climbs steep hill 
to stand beside old tree on windy plain. 

Bloody feet pressing moist soil under grass, 
Rapunzel breathes fresh gusts of chilly wind 
to motivate fierce beating of her heart 
which fuels each step she takes across the plain 
as she limps slowly toward the gleaming hill, 
then kneels and drinks blue water from the lake. 

Recognizing lush meadow of bright flowers 
where she was gathering herbs, mushrooms, and eggs, 
when Pluto snatched her wriggling in his arms 
and raced away in horse-drawn chariot, 
Rapunzel weeps as she walks toward small hut 
where she lived with her mother years ago. 

Finding small hut nestled among oak trees 
under small rock cliff where the river bends, 
Rapunzel opens creaking door with hope 
to see bright eyes of her mother again, 
but shrieks and sobs when she finds withered corpse 
rotting with worms inside her skeleton. 

After she buries her mother in Earth, 
shrouding her rotten corpse with flower petals, 
Rapunzel cleans the hut, sweeping dirt out, 
scrubbing the walls, and scooping cold gray ash, 
then sparks bright fire that glows with starry light 
to brew apple cider which warms her heart. 

Though she lived thirty years in tower room, 
sleeping on silk feather bed with plush pillows, 
wearing elegant gowns and jeweled crowns, 
and hosting fabulous feasts with rich food 
while feted as queen by ministers and dukes, 
Rapunzel savors freedom of her hut. 

Thinking about the three children she bore 
to Pluto, while imprisoned as his wife, 
grim Orcus, Hades, and Persephone, 
Rapunzel feels reluctant twinge of guilt 
for abandoning them to his abuse, 
but Pluto values his wealth over her. 

While tending her small garden by the river, 
Rapunzel senses presence of her son 
approaching from the lake with eager joy, 
but when she calls Orcus with surprised cry 
his ghost vanishes in the evening dusk, 
so she kneels alone and cries to the moon.