Specter Of Wealth

Specter Of Wealth
© Surazeus
2024 06 16

I cannot stay in this house anymore, 
the old woman shouts at crows on phonelines, 
then tears pages from the Bible, and flings 
their hopes and lies at the dumpster of trash, 
eyes blazing with holy vision of death 
while families pass to eat in restaurants. 

Old man in short jeans and tattered blue shirt 
explains to ash tree outside the art store, 
I am great Tithonus, grandson of Ilus 
who founded fabulous city of Troy, 
then fishes crushed takeout tray from the trash 
to eat spaghetti while the river gleams. 

We can get married now in the white church, 
and raise three kids while you work at the bank, 
Eurydice hisses behind cupped hand 
at the old man who refuses to share 
spaghetti that splatters on hot cement 
when she grabs his arm till he stalks away. 

Shaking the Dead End sign with her left hand, 
Eurydice growls at the passing truck, 
my stuff keeps disappearing through the years, 
so I cannot remember who you are, 
then stomps across the street at the red light, 
asking no one, so which side are you on. 

Rocking back and forth as he swings his arms 
outside dirt-smudged window of First State Bank, 
that during the pandemic went bankrupt, 
Tithonus mutters at specter of wealth, 
I cannot save you from choices you make 
so give poisoned apple back to the snake. 

Trembling at sudden sight from door of time 
of the six-winged seraph with golden eyes, 
Eurydice sneers at the glorious light 
that radiates from Eye of Eternity 
while tearing concert poster off brick wall 
that shows her doppelganger Taylor Swift. 

Picking flowers in front of city hall, 
while singing snatches of old Beatles songs, 
Eurydice climbs over metal rail, 
and scrambles down steep bank of muddy rocks 
to wade in passion of the swirling flow, 
floating past people at the river park. 

Bearing drowned body of Eurydice 
from Oconee River with caring arms, 
Tithonus lays her under willow tree 
and tries to breathe breath of life in her mouth, 
but stares mute as she crumbles back to dust, 
then he falls asleep in alley by the church.