Lovers On The Shore

Lovers On The Shore
© Surazeus
2023 05 16

Shifting flock of delicate butterflies, 
wings glowing bright as rainbows after rain, 
flutter in chaos of cool swirling breeze 
to follow pungent scent of pink plum blossoms 
stirred up by herd of horses galloping past 
so fast they blur into sorrow of time. 

Thin boy perched on gnarled branch of a peach tree 
extends forked stick toward shimmering blue sky 
to dislodge juicy velvet globes that fall 
bouncing on yellow grass of eager hope 
where grinning girl plops them into straw basket 
as butterflies flutter around her hair. 

Full silver moon of nothingness glows soft 
behind transparent veil of scarlet mist, 
pierced by straight branch of a silent plum tree 
that shivers from cold sorrow of mute faith 
on tangled hair of the hungry blind girl 
who listens to white laughter of the stream. 

High jagged mountain, black from drenching rain, 
casts eerie shadow on deep river vale 
where slender flummoxed boy with a forked stick 
runs with the ethereal butterfly girl 
in grove of gnarled peach trees, gasping for breath 
as they flee the indignant gardener. 

Sitting close together on verdant shore 
beneath majestic willow tree at night, 
the boy and girl, hearts beating with elation, 
eat juicy peaches dripping down their chins, 
and gaze at merry stars that twinkle bright 
in transient beauty of the serene lake. 

Hearts bound by scarlet thread of loyal love, 
delicate as steel gossamer of trust, 
the boy and girl gaze up at the vast sky 
lambent with never-moving points of light 
that radiate timeless fortune of free will, 
forever young on iridescent shore. 

Though they go on to live long fruitful lives, 
raising children born from their radiant hearts 
with grim struggle against soul-carving pain, 
their spirits shine still on florescent shore 
as transient figures on the painting canvas 
defined by brushstrokes of her skillful hand. 

As their skeletons glow inside their graves, 
descendants of their children kneel and bow 
before portrait of lovers on the shore, 
boy and girl eating peaches by starlight, 
while butterflies among gnarled branches glide 
so slow they blend into sorrow of time.