Roadless River Vale

Roadless River Vale
© Surazeus
2023 08 23

Looking all over for his favorite Muse, 
sad-eyed boy of the roadless river vale 
finds skulls of heroes grinning among flowers, 
so in stark silence of the nevermore 
he sings with aching loneliness of love 
till he dies and becomes a skull among flowers. 

Wandering in Lurkwood where eyeless owls dream, 
sad-eyed boy of the roadless river vale 
searches Latium for dark hiding place 
where Saturnus slumbers in cave of ghosts, 
but finds only nymphs splashing in bright pool 
while skull of Hylas on large boulder smiles. 

Hidden in crowd of solemn worshippers, 
sad-eyed boy of roadless river vale 
watches old bearded King Italus place 
laurel wreath on head of pregnant Carmenta 
who gives wood mask to her little son Janus, 
then smiles when he wears it over his face. 

Stepping slowly forward from the hushed crowd, 
sad-eyed boy of roadless river vale 
sits beside Carmenta in ivied fane, 
then plucks gold strings of his tortoise-shell lyre 
and sings solemn tale of Terra and Caelus 
whose son Sabus led his tribe to this land. 

Approaching pretty girl by the pear tree, 
sad-eyed boy of roadless river vale 
blushes when Larunda calls out his name, 
then gives her basket of mushrooms and eggs 
he gathered in dark woods of Latium, 
amazed at sparkle of her silver eyes. 

Relaxing on porch of her cooking fane, 
sad-eyed boy of roadless river vale 
gazes at Larunda with helpless love 
as she prepares their meal with food he brought, 
but pretends to tune the strings of his lyre 
when she glaces at him with charming smile. 

Startled when someone stabs him in his breast, 
sad-eyed boy of roadless river vale 
gasps at sudden pain that pierces his heart, 
then Larunda screams and staunches his wound, 
shouting at Fontus that she loves him not, 
because she wants to marry gentle Gordius. 

Gasping with pain as blood flows from his mouth, 
sad-eyed boy of roadless river vale 
caresses cheek of Larunda with care 
as she clutches him tightly in her arms 
and weeps with anguish as he floats in light 
that overwhelms his heart with joyous love.