No Shadow Remembers

No Shadow Remembers
© Surazeus
2022 01 24

No shadow remembers shape of the door 
that hides infinity of nothing new. 
We give each other what we want in turn 
however much it costs in terms of truth 
because we fear the falling of the rain. 
I wear the mask of sadness I create. 

Clara washes dishes in the back room 
while pretty girls get diamonds from rich boys. 
Clutching basket of apples to her breast, 
she rides the bus two hours to her home 
where she studies accounting till she sleeps. 
Leaves fall in the park where she never plays. 

Darrin programs computers with weird code 
that manipulates the meaning of time. 
Playing video games on the giant screen, 
he lounges on roof of apartment tower 
where eyeless angels writhe in ecstasy. 
Clouds spiral over shining city maze. 

Clara runs to library late at night 
to escape men chasing her in the wind. 
Darrin challenges the men to a fight 
then buys her supper in the quaint cafe 
so they laugh as they share stories of life. 
The handless demon plays jazz on piano. 

People attending art gallery show 
view paintings of angels bleeding in rain. 
Clara in mink fur coat and diamond tiara 
walks with Darrin among elegant guests 
who praise beautiful terror of his art. 
Wings torn from her heart flap fishly in gloom. 

Too beautiful for sorrow of this world, 
Clara wanders pregnant in misty woods. 
After giving birth to a wingless angel, 
she bleeds to death on the hill of white snow, 
surrounded by white wolves with sea-blue eyes. 
The new-born girl suckles milk from the sun. 

Darrin teaches his daughter how to sing 
hymns in harmony with the flashing rain. 
Richard grills burgers at the country bar 
while Cathy plays guitar on smoky stage 
and sings about the boy with wolfish eyes. 
The owl with golden eyes watches it all. 

Cathy and Richard hike the winding trail 
in rugged foothills around Mount Rainier. 
Sipping hot chocolate on high mountain slope, 
they watch stars twinkle in the Milky Way, 
wondering which ones burned out ages ago. 
Two frail shadows glow on the mountain top.