Feel Spirit Of Marduk

Feel Spirit Of Marduk
© Surazeus
2025 01 05

"If I must wear cracked mask of the dead clown 
to appear presidential to the people," 
Darren declares to the dastardly demon 
dribbling the basketball, "then I will play 
role fate writes for me without hesitation, 
though clandestine crime cripples my career. 

Startled by the striped lizard at his feet, 
Darren jumps back and stumbles over corpse 
of the brutal general he shot to death, 
then uses rifle butt to break iron lock 
and free women and children from dank cells 
who clutch at their savior and beg for food. 

Slouched in dark unbombed cafe by the bridge, 
Darren eats wheat sandwich with ham and cheese 
while watching shipping boats and fancy yachts 
glide along slimed river where no ghosts float, 
then asks the crow why he alone survived 
chaotic battles of bullets and fear. 

Young woman pausing just outside his window 
pulls frilly sleeve up to reveal her arm 
covered with tattoo of the Virgin Mary 
which clearly covers long terrible scar 
she got when platoon soldiers captured her 
and forced her to play housewife for three months. 

When nameless woman with the arm tattoo 
turns and glares into mirror of his eyes, 
his heart freezes with horror of her truth 
that she will never explain to her children, 
girl who becomes the concert violinist, 
and boy who drives the delivery truck. 

"I cannot figure out what words to use 
to best explain confusion of my mind 
fractured into kaleidoscope of dreams 
by each bomb that blasted Dresden to hell," 
Darren grins while cleaning porcelain plates 
for the general lost in his labyrinth. 

"I often picture how Sargon the Great 
recruited lost boys from small villages," 
Darren muses while guarding entry gate, 
"to forge the first structured army in history, 
how he trained them, provided daily meals, 
and lead them to unite the whole known world." 

"Somehow, when I was in the battle blaze," 
Darren explains to the dead general, 
"I would feel spirit of Marduk possess 
body of this poor farm boy from Ohio, 
so I will now worship him as my god," 
then drinks wine as girls search rubble for food.