Allowing You To Live

Allowing You To Live
© Surazeus
2025 03 01

Blue water ripples in white porcelain tub 
as Cassandra stretches and cleans her skin 
with flower-paste soap on the soft sea sponge, 
and flames of candles delicately dance 
in soft river breeze among plum tree limbs 
that gleam black in purple evening dusk glow. 

Long red silk gown draped around her lithe curves 
flutters in river breeze tinged by moonlight 
as Cassandra glides gracefully alone 
past portraits of ancestors that swell bright 
and reach gaunt ghostly hands to grasp her hair 
that swirls free from desperation to live. 

Climbing tall maple tree on the hill top, 
Cassandra gazes far across broad valley 
where the river winds among orchard groves 
with seven villages where angels dwell 
in stone cottages with gardens of herbs, 
and cries at vision of them all in flames. 

Approaching locked door of the castle tower, 
Cassandra gestures hand sigils to spark 
invisible flame that knocks the door open, 
then climbs stairs winding up into the sky 
to find her daughter Rapunzel hogtied, 
so she cuts ropes and they flee down the stairs. 

Five men with swords surround the open door 
so Cassandra swirls and knocks them all down, 
then crouches in martial stance of calm force 
to fight Tereus, who kidnaps young girls, 
but he shoots her with bullet from long gun 
and she lies bleeding under the red moon. 

Weeping distraught at cruel death of her mother, 
Rapunzel flees through mist in mountain woods, 
clambering past tangled vines of despair 
till she lies gasping by small sparkling pool 
as gold sunlight gleams through indifferent pines, 
trying not to scream loud as she births her child. 

Cradling new-born baby in trembling arms, 
Rapunzel gazes in her silver eyes 
with heart-breaking ache of desperate love 
that banishes her vow of just revenge 
to drown child of her rapist after birth, 
unable to commit that tragic act. 

"By allowing you to live, my dear Sibyl, 
I reward evil man, driven by greed, 
who kidnapped me and locked me in his tower, 
then forced me to bear child against my will, 
with life for immortal soul of his genes, 
but you are innocent of his foul crime."