Give Me More Light

Give Me More Light
© Surazeus
2024 12 16

"Give me more light!" cries the old bitter king 
who gropes alone in the mirrorless maze 
to find salvation on the ocean shore 
where ghost of his brother he killed for power 
haunts him with angelic eyes of despair, 
but floats on his back in the sea of tears. 

Finishing his literature class report 
about the boy who could not kill for power, 
Horace walks home along the country lane, 
convinced Hamlet knows in his angry heart 
that Claudius the Sly is his real father, 
and that is why he hesitates to strike. 

The swallow chirping in the maple tree 
regards the ambling scholar with disdain, 
so Horace sticks out his tongue with a sneer, 
then stands on the ancient arching stone bridge 
to watch stream water flashing in sunlight 
with casual indifference to murder mysteries. 

When shriek of fear rings out in grove of trees, 
followed by sharp crack that sounds like a gun, 
Horace runs quickly along the wood fence 
to find his father sprawled across the road, 
bleeding from the bullet wound in his chest, 
so he cradles his head and looks around. 

Swish of the long black cloak in maple grove 
alerts his cautious attention to clues, 
but, as he asks his father who shot him, 
the bearded man splutters with mouth of blood, 
"my brother who died twenty years ago 
has returned from hell to punish me now." 

Sending swarm of butterflies in the air, 
Horace leaves his dead father in the road 
to chase dim shadow of the murderer, 
wondering if his uncle is really dead 
since no one ever returns from the grave, 
then corners the tattooed man by the cave. 

Grinning at him, the sea pirate declares, 
"I am your father, heir to our estate, 
but when your mother was pregnant with you 
my brother framed me for stealing a cow, 
and I was sentenced to slave on a ship, 
but I have returned to claim what is mine." 

Laughing at the irony of his tale, 
Horace leaves and carries his father home, 
and lays his body on the dining table 
where his mother spits on him with disdain, 
then runs to embrace the wild man she loves, 
so Horace sings sad lament for the dead.