Soul Of My Ancestor

Soul Of My Ancestor
© Surazeus
2025 04 04

In my heart I feel soul of my ancestor 
wise Puritan Poet-Witch Anne Bradstreet 
who sailed the ocean blue in Sixteen Thirty 
to write magic spells in the misty woods 
where ghosts of Massachusetts natives sing 
eerie lamentations by moon-white ponds. 

While ancestors of mad seer Robert Lowell, 
descended from sister of Anne Bradstreet, 
stayed within the staid Boston Brahmin world, 
where he transformed into wild Caliban, 
my ancestors journeyed west to Idaho 
two hundred years in wagon trains of hope. 

Escaping gloomy streets of Boston maze, 
shrouded by grim Puritan moral code, 
my ancestors walked in the wilderness 
on signless roads toward hills of singing ghosts 
to find the Promised Land of Paradise 
that flows with milk and honey of hard work. 

Hawk-eyed pioneers, in tanned buckskin pants, 
warm coonskin caps, and beaded leather boots, 
clutched flintlock rifles and sharp tomahawks 
as they lead wagon trains through rolling hills 
far west across wind-swept prairies of prayers 
along the Oregon Trail of new faith. 

Three hundred years later in Palouse hills 
I walk in small university town 
at the far western edge of ancient Rome, 
and see Solaria Sun Spider Goddess 
transform to Tenth Muse of America 
Anne Bradstreet floating on Takoma peak. 

Extending hand of wisdom to my heart, 
Anne, dressed as Athena, gives me her quill 
of raven feather with blank book of dreams, 
and names me Surazeus Astarius 
to wake spirit of Ishtar in my heart 
so I write spells that chronicle the times. 

As member of her ancient tribe of poets, 
with Sir Philip Sydney, Edwin Robinson, 
Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Robert Lowell, 
I wake with spirit of our Mother Witch 
to strum the heart-strung lyre of Mercury 
and sing epic poem of philosophers. 

While Anne Bradstreet stands in long Sibyl robe, 
bearing Torch of Freedom and Book of Truth, 
I journey east from Oregon to find 
origin of my spirit in dark woods 
lit by pure vision of her loving eyes 
to chronicle rise of Zarathia.