Her Ghostly Face

Her Ghostly Face
© Surazeus
2023 12 17

To hang cracked mirror of her ghostly face 
above the mantle of the cold fireplace 
I stretch my arms beyond cave of my heart, 
calculating gear-fate of the star chart 
that measures length of hope to judgment day 
which comes not, no matter how hard I pray. 

The cherry tree bends in cold winter rain 
that gleams from loving candlelight in vain 
though I cut cabbage all night as I wait 
for my love to come home, since he is late 
returning from wars between castle kings, 
till I wake at flutter of raven wings. 

The black horse on horizon of my hope 
brings hungry death swiftly down the wet slope 
on hoofs that shake my heart with numb despair, 
eyes blinded by the early morning glare 
that cracks sharp as the ax against red wood 
of holy icons to expose falsehood. 

Appearing from dark woods as glowing wraith, 
Marzanna, dressed in long white gown of faith, 
head wreathed with flowers blooming in brown snow, 
parades slowly through the festival show 
to portray concept of soul purity, 
which townsfolk burn and drown in effigy. 

The timeless energy of folk witchcraft, 
which fearful Christians have long mocked as daft, 
still surges in fierce hearts of teenage girls 
who feel transcendent passion of star swirls 
empower their quest for the Holy Grail 
which glows in cavern of their secret vale. 

While riding in sleek car on Christmas Eve, 
past mist-shrouded meadow where angels grieve, 
Marianne sees black horse beneath the star 
that bears her heart to some strange land afar 
where she bakes apple pies in fire-lit room 
as children sing and dance in snowy gloom. 

Sitting on soft couch by the crackling hearth, 
with her large family in holiday mirth, 
Marianne sees on cluttered Christmas tree, 
gleaming with eerie light, the magic key 
which opens all doors in the multiverse, 
so she decides to become the soul nurse. 

Gazing from mantle of the bright fireplace, 
the old star-eyed witch with the ghostly face 
animates young girl with ambitious plan 
to create world savior from the caveman 
who perceives the real her behind her mask 
when he brings her juice in the fragile flask.