Escape From Paradise

Escape From Paradise
© Surazeus
2025 11 09

For all I am is grass beside the stream 
which splashes over jagged mossy stones 
then winds beneath the steep mist-shrouded hill 
to flow into the ever-swirling sea 
that sings indifferent to you and me 
with timeless voice of bitter honesty. 

So long on journey through light-blurring fog 
on silver beaches that dissolve in waves 
I forget destination of my heart, 
yet keep on trudging, steadfast in my faith 
that I will soon arrive in open vale 
where clear sunlight streams through cracks in the sky. 

Concerned about conundrum of the cloud 
that scatters strict cerulean rays of time, 
I study spectral shadows of huge birds 
that circle basement of Heaven in clouds 
where angels play harps in vast mirrored halls 
that lure me to climb high mountain of hope. 

Yet when the clever wren of earnest hope 
alights in lone elm on the mountain top 
I find myself alone in paradise 
far outside pillared halls of pompous pride, 
mask of my soul preserving gusts of wind 
that fill my breast with coldness of respect. 

Resplendent essence radiant from my skin 
conjures bewildered butterflies of faith 
which motivate me with tremulous wing 
to question why bleak sorrow wounds my heart 
with passion to absorb with thirsty heart 
luminary darkness of loyal love. 

Unearthly height of Heaven in dark clouds 
exposes fragile nothingness of me 
shivering on vast mountain slope of fear, 
so I gaze down at rounded world of air, 
half bulging stillness of valleys and hills 
and half flat motion of billows and waves. 

While I gaze at vastness of the round world, 
terrible sense of meaningless rage 
strikes my heart with despair to understand, 
so I seek purpose in the empty sky 
where some tell me perfect Heaven of truth 
waits for me to transcend my loneliness. 

Then sudden beam of pure heavenly light 
illuminates large ship with billowed sails 
that sparks plan of escape from paradise, 
so with three coins I earned by shoveling mud 
I purchase passage to America 
where Heaven glimmers on this messy Earth.