Graceful Young Queen

Graceful Young Queen
© Surazeus
2024 07 26

Hiding in castle of sweet fantasies, 
the old bearded wizard king with long hair, 
who once slew thousands of cruel warriors 
to build empire on skulls of enemies, 
watches actors perform dramatic plays 
about the tragic deaths of haughty kings. 

He weeps when young prince, abandoned in woods 
because old half-blind witch in dank sea cave 
told his father he would kill him one day 
to wear his crown, returns to his homeland 
and kills his father, then marries his sister, 
who stabs out her eyes to escape his lust. 

Intense emotion of heart-aching sorrow 
excites his soul with thunder of the sky, 
so he wanders cold empty castle halls, 
calling out names of his children and wife, 
but finds heaps of skeletons in the court 
who dance to eerie music of the lute. 

Holding skull of his wife, the graceful queen 
who dances among apple trees at dawn, 
long gold hair flowing as she twirls with delight, 
eyes sparkling blue as they kiss and make love, 
the old bearded wizard king calls her name, 
but her soft voice never answers his cry. 

Climbing spiral stairs to the tallest tower, 
the old bearded wizard king with frail hands 
gazes out at the warm colorful hills 
where herd of deer graze on the river shore 
as birds flit chirping between apple trees, 
and shadow of Death glides among the flowers. 

Flying down stairs on fluttering cape of hope, 
the old bearded wizard king with no crown 
opens rotten doors into blinding light 
to welcome tall woman with long black hair 
wearing black gown with glittering rubies, 
whose black eyes sparkle with vast galaxies. 

Entranced by exquisite grace of her style, 
the old bearded wizard king with stale heart 
shivers when she embraces him with passion, 
arms enfolding him in bright heat of love, 
and gasps with mind-expanding flash of truth 
when she consumes vibrant flame of his soul. 

Pregnant with his child, the graceful young queen 
lounges by window in the tallest tower, 
eating apples with serpentine compassion, 
gently shoves the old bearded wizard king 
who falls wingless from Heaven into Hell, 
then licks her fingers while I play the lute.