Hearth Of The Parthenon

Hearth Of The Parthenon
© Surazeus
2025 06 19

Fifty years ago children would play wild 
in the wide streets all summer afternoon 
with eager passion for the roles they choose 
in carefree timelessness of grassy lawns, 
but now they sit at computers on desks 
and weave visions across the world wide web. 

I want to go outside in the bright glow 
and ride my bike along the quiet streets 
past houses where children play on small lawns 
to the library on the college campus 
where the round fountain splashes peacefully 
in the wooded hills of northeastern Texas. 

Pausing outside the brick library door, 
I gaze up at clouds in the pale blue sky, 
but see no airplanes from the last world war 
dropping bombs to destroy our way of life, 
so I stroll inside and sit at the desk 
to read of languages and alphabets. 

Strolling with Bilbo in the Misty Mountains, 
then through spidery shadows of Mirkwood, 
I join his quest to find the secret treasure 
of gold and jewels in the Lonely Mountain 
where dragon of tyranny rules the world 
till Bard shoots him down with arrow of truth. 

We travel north in the blue pickup truck 
to dwell in the shadow of Mount Takoma 
near the Cascade Mountains in Washington, 
called the Yamakiasham Yaina range, 
where ancient tribes of forest people dwell 
along the sparkling Nichiwana River. 

Hiking in pine woods around Mount Takoma, 
I search for ancient treasure of my heart 
in timeless quiet of the lake-side grove, 
till northern spotted owl calls my true name, 
then Calliope, daughter of Apollo, 
gives me the ancient lyre of Mercury. 

Orpheus teaches me how to sing spells 
with power to enchant the human mind 
with tales of heroes who write history 
to build foundation of philosophy 
on which our world civilization stands 
that spreads bright from hearth of the Parthenon. 

I chuckle at how my creative brain 
invents grand legend of heroic deeds 
from random journey of my mortal soul 
across the crowded landscape of this world 
where thousands of prophets preach their world views 
till we die and our books crumble to dust.