We Have Not Disappeared

We Have Not Disappeared
© Surazeus
2026 04 19

Though ocean waves erase our names from sand, 
and time dissolves our bodies into dust, 
our vibrant characters of baser hopes 
will live by fame in stories of old books 
far longer than great empires ever last, 
but even myths will dissipate in wind. 

I hear strange whistle from voice of the moon 
as distant echo in shadows of fate, 
so I help the blindfolded girl escape 
harsh judgement of villagers with stone hands 
shocked in rage that she dares defy their rules 
till we wander lost in waste land of fear. 

Clutching audible objects of true love 
that pulse with passion of seasonal hope, 
we break through shadow of wordless despair 
to fall in lush grass by the sparkling lake, 
amazed we managed to evade cruel death 
whose bitter rage growls softly after dusk. 

We lie beside soft whispered stream of hope 
where horses graze among old apple trees, 
and think about infinity through time 
that spirals forth in never-ending flow 
as vast gulf stretching everywhere we look, 
concerned we have not disappeared enough. 

Bright face in trickling eddies of starlight 
appears to watch us from abyss of faith, 
so we trade silent thoughts between our eyes 
which hang suspended from billowing clouds, 
but then weird light illuminates her face 
that gleams pure white as mask of bloodless ice. 

I sink in lightless gloom of misery 
and float on undulating waves of grass 
to dream I fly on horse of vanity 
away from roaring demon of my heart, 
then start awake in gold glow before dawn 
to see she transformed into a pond toad. 

Indulging happiness of lightning strikes, 
I search everywhere through indifferent woods 
to find dim shadow of her fragile soul 
for thirty years till memory of her face 
fades into flicker of leaves in sunlight 
as I stare at my own face in the pool. 

While eating bitter apple of my heart, 
I pause and stare at flicker of the lake 
and wonder how she vanished in the light, 
the blindfolded girl I rescued from death, 
then turn because I think I hear her voice 
as I transform into the eyeless crow.