Alpheus Chooses How

Alpheus Chooses How
© Surazeus
2023 09 28

However long it takes to dream the moon 
that shines on mirror of the mellow pool, 
Alpheus floats in river of lost hope 
that sparkles purple liquid of his eyes 
so when he sees sweet girl with flowing hair 
he hums and disappears in star-bright air. 

Refusing to chase nymph with golden hair 
that bounces curls around her rosy cheeks, 
Alpheus ponders why full silver moon 
cannot escape taut web of tangled limbs, 
though apple tree of arrogant despair 
still dances with the faceless wind of time. 

Wading knee-deep in purple river flow 
to search for magic ring of solitude, 
Alpheus ignores nude girl on lush shore 
who peels ripe oranges with fingers of lust 
to taste light of the sun in juicy fruit 
while two hawks circle hill of skeletons. 

Whichever way on road past paradise 
that he decides to walk at flash of dawn, 
Alpheus chooses how to swerve off path 
to stand on jagged cliff of fortitude 
and watch white lightning flash across black sky 
in shocking revelation of the mind. 

Ignoring ache to kiss sweet river nymph 
who lies entranced by grape vines on the hill, 
Alpheus gathers small plump eye-round fruit 
that squirts sweet juice of sparkling honesty 
when he tastes bitter sorrow of the moon 
while three hawks measure progress of the wind. 

Amused when star-eyed dryad with long hair 
flees into shadow each time he appears, 
Alpheus carves runes of weird magic spell 
on marble wall of temple on the hill 
where ghosts of long-dead mothers whisper soft 
strange secrets only the blind moon would know. 

Annoyed that bold dramatic tale of love 
ignores grand genius of his aching heart, 
Alpheus in apple tree by the stream 
considers why the dryad with long hair 
always runs away when he calls her name 
because she wants to incarnate the moon. 

Although it overteems with mellow words 
that lead his eager steps to sunny glades, 
Alpheus watches water of the stream 
flow ever onward to the swirling sea, 
so he calls Arethusa on the phone 
but she transforms into the spider crone.