Tree Of Voiceless Hope

Tree Of Voiceless Hope
© Surazeus
2025 02 01

Wounded by eccentric stars of desire, 
Claudia leaks shadows on the mountain trail 
where she wanders searching for her own ghost 
who leaves strange footprints in dust of the Earth, 
but pauses to ask rain why people die, 
scanning the sky for secret of rebirth. 

Weird constellations of stars slowly spin 
wheel of fortune that determines her fate 
according to old woman in the tree, 
so Claudia holds small nutshell in her hand 
and searches in vain for infinite space 
which Hamlet said with confidence is there. 

"I am no righteous daughter of the moon," 
Claudia whispers with iridescent wings, 
"though I was loyal bride to a good man, 
for I am lazy instrument of faith 
who covets water of this fractured globe 
which shakes while spinning in the starless void." 

Awake with wonder on the mountain slope, 
attempting to imagine ghosts are real, 
Claudia calculates process of desire 
to prove that stubbornness might get her killed, 
yet she adores blank beauty of her mask 
that hides the speaker of her soul from fools. 

With humble passion of obedient crows, 
who steal our voices from telephone lines, 
Claudia suddenly remembers quite clearly 
what she said to the man with the clenched fist 
twenty hours ago on the city street 
before she escaped through door of the wind. 

"Since freedom is another word," she laughs, 
"for nothing left to lose, as Janice sings 
with graveled voice of innocent despair, 
then I have lost everything I held dear 
when my husband was fired without good cause 
from his government job, and killed himself." 

"I want to become my own country now, 
like Kai sings with articulate respect," 
Claudia declares to the high waterfall 
that sprays tears on her cheeks she wants to hide, 
"but I have nothing in this world of lies 
so I would be this tree of voiceless hope." 

"Sacred stars of honest integrity 
that once sparkled on our star-spangled banner, 
pierce my heart with searing blades of disgust, 
so I want to become part of the Earth." 
After lying flat on the mountain all night, 
Claudia drives home on the desolate road.