Oculus Of Goddess Terra

Oculus Of Goddess Terra
© Surazeus
2025 01 16

Gazing at sublime beauty of sunlight 
that beams through circle at core of the dome 
enclosing the sky in the Pantheon, 
Zoilus whispers, "I am inside great eye 
of our Great Mother who dreams through my soul, 
awake in oculus of Goddess Terra." 

Zoilus, young frail boy wearing leather kilt, 
stands balanced on his small wood fishing boat 
rocked by aggressive waves of morning hope, 
and watches clouds swirl across the dark sea 
to assess best time to sail gleaming waves, 
then continues twisting knots on his net. 

Casting his net across the wine-dark sea, 
Zoilus hauls hundreds of fish in his boat, 
but one sea turtle crawls over the heap, 
so he holds her up and peers in her eyes, 
then gently sets her back into the sea 
and grins as she submerges in the deep. 

Before he turns his boat to sail to shore, 
Zoilus sees bright star streak across the sky 
in long elegant arch of blazing wings, 
then splash in surging waves with hiss of steam, 
so he sails quickly with eager desire 
to save the fallen star before it sinks. 

Arriving at the spot, he finds young girl 
with swan-white wings splashing with frantic fear, 
so he throws rope and pulls her on his boat 
where she lies gasping, so he gives her flask 
for her to drink sweet pomegranate juice, 
then drapes fur cloak to help the girl get warm. 

Caressing his cheek with pale freckled hand, 
the girl with gold-green eyes and red curled hair 
expresses for his rescue gratitude. 
"My name is Astraea, and I was born 
daughter of Priestess Isis and King Mars 
who rule Massalia in Gallia Province." 

Astraea hugs him as they sail toward land. 
"Young brother of my father stabbed his heart 
and claimed Wand of Zambor to rule the land, 
then sent me on the ship across the sea 
to force into marriage in far Egypt, 
but I jumped overboard to escape death." 

Standing together in the Pantheon, 
Zoilus and Astraea with reverence 
hold hands and pledge loyalty and trust in love 
to support each other while they both live. 
Sitting together at their market stall, 
he sells fish while she nurses their young child.