Brenda Plays Flute

Brenda Plays Flute
© Surazeus
2024 01 11

With Book of Lost Tales in his red right hand, 
Albert walks to the end of anywhere. 
Every city that mushrooms from dry land 
discharges ghosts into the smoggy air. 
He tries to call her on the telephone, 
but Brenda has become the river stone. 

Brenda rides playful pony of the wind, 
laughing with joy because no bombs explode. 
Albert takes her to where the willows bend 
so Brenda plays flute for the star-eyed toad. 
Their soft lips meet in the most tender kiss 
that glows with love from heart of the abyss. 

Analyzing income from mortgage loans, 
Albert calculates bank profit and loss. 
Though moss cannot gather on rolling stones, 
men must bluster to prove they are the boss. 
Suckling her baby with exhausted pride, 
Brenda never tells her mother she cried. 

Albert aims pistol at man in black mask, 
laughing cruelly at the amateur thief. 
Brenda assigns her son the arduous task 
of painting bright flowers based on her grief. 
Albert photographs Brenda and their son 
who claps to watch the alligator run. 

Eating tuna sandwiches at the zoo, 
young family enjoys the warm afternoon. 
The man with the gun distorts his world view 
when he tries to shoot his wife on the moon. 
Albert runs to hit the man on the head 
before he falls blind in land of the dead. 

Brenda cradles Albert in bloody arms 
while police arrest the man with the gun. 
Angels howl with anguish at loud alarms 
when the boy assembles puzzle of fun. 
When demon of justice enters his brain 
Albert rises from his grave in black rain. 

The man who shot his ex-wife at the zoo 
wakes up in jail at harsh unworldly chill. 
Demon of justice with torn wings askew 
drags his spirit to the skull-cluttered hill. 
Albert berates him for selfish neglect, 
"You must treat your wife with loving respect." 

Hanging on the cross for ten thousand years, 
the man who killed the woman writhes in pain. 
After the funeral, wiping away tears, 
Brenda sees his ghost in the windowpane. 
Sitting by their willow in evening light, 
Brenda plays flute to assist his star flight.