Mutual Trusting Love

Mutual Trusting Love
© Surazeus
2024 11 13

With basket full of acorns on her arm, 
Damona strolls thin trail in grove of oaks 
past daffodils that gleam in the pearl moon 
to oak wood temple by bubbling hot springs 
where she brews beef and acorn soup with thyme 
while humming cheerful melody of hope. 

Twisting knobs to tighten wires on his lyre, 
Borbanus squints his eyes to hear sharp twang 
till he is satisfied its tone is right, 
then childishly grins with hungry delight 
when Damona sets bowl of soup with bread 
on round table in garden round the back. 

Skipping among bushes of pungent herbs, 
Bormana chases the white butterfly 
that lands on pink yarrow blooms by the pool, 
kneels and gazes down at her small round face, 
then asks her father why her eyes are blue, 
as spotted fawn nuzzles her rosy cheek. 

Grinding herbs in stone mortar with slim pestle, 
Belenus tastes concoction with his finger, 
then asks Sirona to bring three snake eggs, 
so she runs down to verdant river shore 
and gathers small white adder eggs she finds 
under leaf litter beneath holly shrubs. 

Following Sirona back from the river, 
Grannus wraps his arms around her plump waist 
and whispers words of desire in her ear, 
but when she struggles to escape his grasp 
he throws her down among the daffodils 
and tries to thrust inside between her legs. 

Running to mother Damona in fright, 
Bormana whispers that she saw her brother 
Grannus trying make babies with Sirona, 
so she commands Borbanus with sharp voice 
to arrest their son from forcing his way 
on the girl without her mutual consent. 

Dragging his son off of the weeping girl, 
Borbanus beats his legs with the oak wand, 
then explains to Grannus with stern command 
that he must always accept expressed choice 
of any girl after asking consent, 
respecting her free will to love or not. 

Gathering everyone at the feasting table, 
Damona lectures them about free will, 
reminding them that one confirms their soul 
through self-control of mutual trusting love, 
then fills their bowls with honey acorn soup 
while Borbanus plays lyre as evening falls.