Phoenix Of Zarathia

Phoenix Of Zarathia
© Surazeus
2025 01 29

"After Midas destroys America," 
shouts Cassandra on the busy street corner, 
"we, the people, with freedom in our hearts, 
will build new nation of Zarathia 
based on justice and liberty for all." 
Everyone ignores the prophet in fear. 

"Before the Phoenix of Zarathia 
can rise from ruins of America," 
Cassandra weeps alone on river shore, 
"cruel tyrant will destroy all we hold dear 
when that son of the Scottish immigrant 
drives brown immigrants back to Mexico." 

"Where can I hide from goons of tyranny 
in Eden Garden of Serenity?" 
Cassandra whispers to the old blind crow, 
who drops red mushroom in her open hand, 
then flaps wings of desolation to perch 
indifferent on silent telephone lines. 

Clutching her broken guitar in despair, 
Cassandra hides in narrow alleyway. 
"I see terrible vision on the wall 
that shows the white towers of Ilium 
burning when the violent mob attacks 
to storm the citadel of righteousness." 

"If we allow Golden Boy to return, 
his father, who appointed himself king 
when he stormed grand halls of power with greed, 
will crown his son successor to his reign, 
then cast the angels who oppose his rule 
from Heaven when he fires them without cause." 

Taking his dazed girlfriend Cassandra home, 
Jake lies beside her in bed at midnight 
and wonders at the vision she describes. 
"So God and Lucifer in your weird tale 
stormed Heaven in revolt against King El, 
and then God crowned his son succeeding king?" 

"And in this religious myth of the past 
you see the present political state 
where the current president crowns himself 
monarch of the land, then fires rebel angels?" 
Jake grins when mute Cassandra nods her head 
with eyes wide from her visions of disaster. 

"Though his greed destroys our democracy 
to install oligarchy of the rich, 
like Ozymandias he will fall from pride 
when Sisyphus smashes idol with clay feet, 
and we will found new world of liberty 
through United States of Zarathia."