River-Cave Girl

River-Cave Girl
© Surazeus
2024 11 28

The yellow-bellied kingbird on phone wire, 
as tyrant of my melancholy soul 
who darts quick as lightning to catch the fly, 
waits for me to follow her flashing tail 
down winding pathway into gloomy Hell 
in dusty open-pit mine of despair. 

Approaching gates of twisted iron bars, 
that creak in howling wind of everywhere, 
I crouch when Beelzebub, Lord of the Flies, 
sends howling swarm of insects at my face, 
so I shield my face against stinging rage, 
but horror of their hate pushes me back. 

Then River-Cave Girl wearing wolf-fur cloak 
grasps torch of freedom from pit of despair 
she swirls to scatter insects from my soul, 
then takes my hand and leads me running swift 
around chromatic pools of minerals 
safe to small grotto of bright emeralds. 

Each time grim monster of my chthonic mind 
looms from dark shadows of my unnamed fears 
my gentle guide helps me evade its rage 
with clever tricks of misguiding disguise, 
so we journey through caverns of illusions 
safe home to mist-sprinkled Asphodel Meadows. 

Waking from strange dream in afternoon glow, 
I sit up straight in my stiff wooden chair 
and glance around gold-lit library hall 
where students intently study textbooks, 
then focus my attention once again 
on psychic tropes in Victorian epic poems. 

Yet from periphery of distracted sight, 
I sense the river-cave girl of my dream 
in close proximity to my sad heart, 
so I clandestinely investigate, 
and see her now dressed as Library Girl 
with yellow sweater and forest-green skirt. 

Those eyes that see beyond devilish masks, 
and hands that clear my way in bitter Hell, 
are now incarnate in this living girl 
whose sudden glance my way pierces my heart 
with noble purpose to protect the world 
so she may live forever safe and free. 

Gathering my books at the closing bell, 
I wander slowly past the check-out desk, 
and blush when Library Girl smiles at me 
and gives me paper with her username 
to follow her on social media sites, 
then I stride out into the starry night.