Holy Land Earth

Holy Land Earth
© Surazeus
2025 01 23

The way we travel forward over land 
becomes ideal concept of the Road 
which functions as straight progress to our goal 
through empty space where trees no longer grow, 
so we signify with names of the dead 
advancement of our journey in our head. 

Bearing basket of berries, nuts, and eggs 
that dangles on her arm with casual joy, 
Gearthe strolls across the meadow of flowers 
from her home in small cave on the hill slope 
to the apple woods where the river flows 
so many times her feet blaze road of hope. 

Entranced by elegant grace of her being 
as she glides with confidence on her way, 
Wulfgard sits nonchalantly by large stone 
halfway between the river and her home, 
hoping to catch attention of her eyes 
by lounging as he strums the harp and sings. 

Enchanted by harmony of his voice 
that beams vision of love with charming words, 
Gearthe visits with Wulfgard by the stone 
each day after they walk along her road, 
and she cooks meals with produce he provides, 
eating together at dawn, noon, and eve. 

Bearing three children from seed of his love, 
Gearthe teaches them to explore her way 
along the roads her curious nature blazed, 
gathering food and water from apple woods, 
then weave flower wreaths in the evening glow 
as they drink cider and sing in her cave. 

Lured from their homestead by swift running deer, 
Wulfgard faces through the woods many miles, 
then bears it back to roast and smoke its meat, 
but finds their children weeping in the cave 
because three men dragged their mother away, 
so he follows the trail to find his wife. 

Approaching castle of stone on high hill, 
Wulfgard demands they free his honest bride, 
so tall man wearing gold crown with long sword 
fights contest over who will wed the girl, 
but when Wulfgard defeats the haughty king 
he pushes her out window of the tower. 

Bearing dying Gearthe home in his arms, 
Wulfgard lays her broken soul by the stone 
where she sang ballads while he strummed the harp, 
and declares, "I name this holy land Earth, 
and our children I call Gerthmanians," 
then kisses her soul as she fades away.