Twisted Black Boughs

Twisted Black Boughs
© Surazeus
2025 03 16

White apple blossoms on twisted black boughs 
confuse my heart with ancient memories 
that must have been experienced long ago 
by nameless ancestors who must be mine 
for all their memories program how I think, 
so I merge them all into who I am. 

Silver-sky light gleams in twisted black boughs 
of hungry trees that try to reach the sky 
with space-invading energy of hope 
that flashes wordless visions in my mind 
where I see people walking down the street 
to go somewhere I am not going to. 

I want to stop the woman with no face 
as we pass each other by empty church 
about the secret pleasures of her heart 
so words she speaks may mold mask for her face 
which I can signify with secret name 
she shares in whisper from hidden desire. 

While we sit together in sharp moonlight 
I gaze at her face for ten thousand years 
till every feature of her hidden heart 
emerges from shadow as spoken hope 
so now I see her face on everything, 
even the moon that reflects her true soul. 

I spend all day among the apple trees, 
twisted black boughs lit bright by the gold sun, 
tending each individual tree with care 
to ensure upmost production of fruits 
that softly explode from pores of my brain 
so I become the tree of timeless faith. 

Earth-bound with preference for the flowing stream 
that carries all sorrow to the mute sea, 
I till thick soil with energy of hope 
to cherish apple trees that grow from graves 
where my ancestors breathe the boundless sky 
so we can dance among twisted black boughs. 

Instead of worms feeding on my dead soul 
when my children bury me under trees 
I want cheerful larks on twisted black boughs 
to consume tattered fragments of my soul 
and carry me among the swirling clouds 
where I can become the freedom of flight. 

But I wake again from dull dream of death 
and sit with heavy heart of aging angst 
beneath shelter of my twisted black boughs 
till she brings hot apple pie from our home 
for us to eat in the cool evening glow, 
so I gaze at her strange face as she sings.