Most Lonely Telephone

Most Lonely Telephone
© Surazeus
2026 01 26

If I ever forget why children cry 
I will become the most lonely telephone 
that never rings across the countryside 
where I hang out on trunk of the old elm, 
ignoring angels falling from the sky 
in terrible war against silver planes. 

When she finds the gold-spotted serpent egg, 
Tellus slips it in straw basket of grass, 
then runs graceful as lithe deer in the woods 
to small cave by the gleaming pool of gems 
where she fries it in the skillet to eat, 
then leans against old elm to count the crows. 

Young slender man in brown suit and red tie 
steps from the motorcar in polished shoes, 
and asks the girl with flowers in her hair 
where he can find the waterfall of wrens, 
so she leads him through shadows of old elms 
while chattering about how angels cry. 

Three grim men in black suits with machine guns 
burst into the grove by the waterfall 
where Belenus stares in shock of surprise, 
but Tellus twirls around and kicks the guns, 
and fights all three goons in martial combat, 
whacking them on their heads with willow wand. 

After they run away into the woods, 
Tellus sits on the grass and spreads her skirt, 
then offers him sandwich of beef and cheese, 
so he devours her lunch with eager joy, 
then recites poetry while they drink wine, 
and she dances gleefully at sunset. 

Embraced in twinkle of eternal stars, 
Belenus and Tellus make love with relish 
of passionate bliss with blooming of flowers 
that tremble when bees drink nectar of faith 
to pollinate their pistils from their stamens 
till sunburst scatters dew to soak lush hills. 

When their son Lugus reaches eighteen years 
he joins the royal rifle regiment 
sent overseas to hills of Hindustan 
where he climbs rugged trail to mountain cave 
and falls in love with graceful Parvati 
who plays haunting melodies on the flute. 

While Lugus is building new four-wheeled wagon 
and Parvati is frying Paratha bread, 
grand silver airplane of imperial power 
drops righteous bomb that blasts their mountain hut 
and rips their bodies so they lie on grass 
trembling in pain as they embrace and kiss.