Quest In The Nether Lands

Quest In The Nether Lands
© Surazeus
2026 03 20

Attenuated by faith in the sky, 
I scatter pages of my holy book 
on narrow trail in forest of sad ghosts 
so I can find my way to Wonderland 
but fairies fold them into paper planes 
and float my memories on the wordless breeze. 

Sponsored by oldest woman in the world, 
who dwells in secretive Grand Canyon cave, 
I paint complex murals on parking lots 
that show whole history of the human race 
fighting each other mounds of dirt 
while I eat apples on library steps. 

Tall skinny women wearing slim sheath dresses 
pose on marble steps of the temple porch 
while photographers capture their lithe grace 
to celebrate graduation from college 
as their eyes glitter with hope for the future 
in heart of the empire that rules the world. 

Kneeling in dust by dry fountain of bones 
in central plaza of the crowded city, 
the Weeping Woman cradles her dead son 
shot by police sent by the bitter tyrant 
as he trembles in fear on golden throne 
while wolves circle his grand palace of mirrors. 

I remember life of every ancestor 
whose passion to survive this hostile world 
generates my body with urgent faith 
that we can overcome hunger of death 
to live another hundred million years 
on frail globe spinning in the starry void. 

Old mother sitting in dark house at midnight 
peers out the window at the parking lot 
where she thinks she sees her son in dark hood, 
so she opens front door and shouts is name, 
but faceless ghost of his absence retreats 
and vanishes in delusion of faith. 

Religion is ligament of life tales 
we share around campfire at dawn of time 
to depict our quest in the Nether Lands 
to find the hidden treasure of the dragon 
that highlights exploits of the social hero, 
dead mortal we worship as tribal god. 

Caressing my cheek with her callused hand, 
from working forty years in fields of crops, 
the Weeping Woman gazes in my eyes 
and beams into cathedral of my heart 
enduring passion for justice and truth, 
so I cradle pure heart of love she gives.