So They Close Their Eyes

So They Close Their Eyes
© Surazeus
2024 02 29

The people dance in gold waves of the sea 
because they would like to embrace the moon 
but they stand breathless without memory 
and listen to beat of horse hoofs on sand 
excite their hearts with knowledge of the drum 
so they close their eyes and become the light. 

The people wearing tattered robes of faith 
pick olives from ten-thousand-year-old trees 
till men with guns descend on metal wings, 
demanding they cease choosing to rebel 
for their actions are political games 
so they close their eyes and become the trees. 

The people gathered around trucks of food 
shout at the bullets that turn into bees 
though they lie down and play dead in the wind 
when flames of faith eradicate their souls 
and rain that never falls deletes their names 
so they close their eyes and become the bombs. 

The people who want green wind to create 
their bodies from branches of olive trees 
sail boat of bones across the sea of sand 
to find the girl who dances on the moon 
but they never get to the Promised Land 
so they close their eyes and become the fish. 

The people who count lonely stars of frost 
ask wily shadow fish how to explore 
the signless road that leads to nowhere else 
as if they think the gods will grant their wish 
when they leave their skulls on the singing rocks 
so they close their eyes and become the cave. 

The people who build houses on the cliff 
where trail of blood by trembling lantern glows 
will shake one thousand tambourines of glass 
to welcome light of dawn as nuclear flash 
which imitates bright divine smile of God 
so they close their eyes and become the flame. 

The people who join hands to plant new crops 
ignore the girl who bears pitcher of wine 
though she stares at her face in water eye 
that shines at bottom of the dark abyss 
who gives her silver eyes of innocence 
so they close their eyes and become the well. 

The people who run from the falling bombs 
surround the girl who lies dead on the sand 
and pray to no one in the empty sky 
for salvation from the tyrant of truth 
who devours their souls trapped in dreams of fear 
so they close their eyes and become the Earth.