Broken Lyre Of Mercury

Broken Lyre Of Mercury
© Surazeus
2026 01 10

His soul lies wounded on the treeless plain 
beneath silver shimmer of boundless sky 
where one lone airplane on thin angel wings 
glides silently beyond eternity, 
so he reaches out his pain-twisted arm 
to touch soft nothingness with gentle thought. 

Clutching broken lyre to his bleeding heart, 
fractured turtle shell with splintered deer horns, 
Mercury laughs at strange absurdity 
that constitutes frantic drama of life 
when men assert their vain authority 
by beating people on the head with sticks. 

Crawling on hands and knees, bruised by false hope, 
Mercury slouches on shore of Star Lake 
and casts line with hook on the fishing rod 
to snag the wriggling demon of the deep, 
then roasts it on crackling flames of desire 
and eats sizzling white meat with hungry hope. 

Ragged rain clouds blown across purple sky 
writhe bright orange in flames of anxiety 
to cast weird glow on jagged mountain peaks 
in tune with eerie howl of ghostly wolves 
that seep into hollowness of his heart 
at peaceful solitude of nevermore. 

Expressing fierce concern of bitter angst 
through wistful melody of wavering notes, 
star-wounded Mercury wails worldless hymn 
that gleams in subtle synchronicity 
with wildly flickering beams on restless waves 
which pierce his heart with wisdom of respect. 

Startled at sudden flash of angry light 
on sharp blade of the sword aimed at his breast, 
Mercury shields his heart with turtle shell 
that he had fashioned into tuneful lyre 
so sharp blade of hate cracks lyre shell in half, 
causing Ares to stumble on his face. 

Crushing skull of the war god with sharp rock, 
Mercury defends his life from attack 
to preserve frail flesh of his soul with faith, 
then clutches broken lyre close to his heart 
and sings lamentation of honest pain 
at loss of his soul-healing instrument. 

While climbing narrow trail in pine-rugged hills 
where Mount Takoma gleams with holy light, 
I find lost broken lyre of Mercury, 
so I tune strings of dream anxiety 
and journey far from sea to shining sea 
to sing world epic of philosophers.