Gold Peonies Bloom

Gold Peonies Bloom
© Surazeus
2025 05 06

Gold peonies bloom from heart of the Earth 
to dream untelling beauty of lost time 
through simple answer of sunlight on grass 
from questions wind asks over the rippling lake 
so I pretend that Nature loves my soul 
since she created me from nothingness. 

Young mother in red gown on glowing stone 
suckles new-born child with star-sparkling eyes, 
and sings while her young sister plays the lute 
in tune with melody of the wood thrush 
that sings in shelter of the sprawling oak 
while rays of sunlight beam in swirling clouds. 

Her husband, killed in battle to defend 
castle garden where she raises their child, 
never resurrects from the marble tomb, 
glowing with divine power of the sun 
as his body crumbles into mute dust 
though her tears splash the Earth with hopeful prayer. 

Leaping from lap of his mother with hope, 
the young son of the martyred warrior 
runs swift with eager curiosity 
across broad field that shimmers goldenrods 
with eerie glow beneath the silver sky, 
then pauses puzzled at silence of time. 

Three grim men rise from dark shadows of hate 
with swords honed too sharp on their bitter hearts, 
and lunge forward with cruel snarls of rage 
to murder son of their old enemy 
with intention to erase him from Earth, 
but he dodges sharp blades with agile grace. 

Quick as his pet wolf leaping at his side, 
Galhardus twirls and somersaults in loops 
to misdirect each thrust of arrogance 
till they lose focus of attentive fear, 
exposed to thrust of his knife in their hearts, 
so they fall writhing in anguish of pain. 

Wiping blade clean of their blood on the grass, 
Galhardus skips with innocent disdain 
and gives his mother leather bags of coins 
that glitter gold with face of his dead father, 
so she embraces him with shocked surprise, 
relieved he returns to her arms alive. 

While plucking pears from rustling trees at dawn, 
Galhardus spies young woman in white gown 
who seems to float on fluttering angel wings 
as she glides gracefully on river shore, 
so he breathes deep to calm his beating heart 
and offers fruit she eats with beaming smile.