Rugged Hills Of Arcady

Rugged Hills Of Arcady
© Surazeus
2026 06 20

After I escape from cold cement maze 
where hordes of people speed in metal cars 
in contest over who gains cheese of wealth, 
I roam through rugged hills Of Arcady
and lounge with Orpheus by the River Styx 
where angels wearing masks of devils dance. 

I kneel in wet grass by the sparkling stream 
and dip my hand in sorrow of desire 
to fish for sublime truths and wholesome themes, 
but I perceive reflection of my soul 
masked by this temporary face of mine 
that hides strange ache of hope inside my heart. 

When I hear weeping of the broken heart 
that causes snow to fall in summer time, 
I see Adam and Eve wandering lost 
on signless road from gates of paradise 
who search forever for the Promised Land 
that shimmers beyond horizon of vain hope. 

Then I hear laughter of light-hearted souls 
where siblings Dorothy and William stroll 
along lush margin of the River Styx 
where they see endless rows of daffodils 
dancing merrily in the shining sun 
with passion to sense the divine in Nature. 

For every human city on our globe 
springs from first city of humanity, 
that garden in Eden where fruit trees bloom, 
till God enclosed them inside walls of stone 
and forces us to buy fruit of the Earth 
with metal coins forged in hot caves of Hell. 

Narcissus stares at his face in the pool, 
Saturnus slumbers numb on river shore, 
Orpheus wanders weeping for lost love, 
Icarus floats stunned on wild ocean waves, 
Lucifer bears cracked Lamp of Liberty, 
and I wonder if I am real or not. 

Beneath broad-leafed myrtle of innocence, 
I watch bright clouds swirl slowly in blue sky 
till Evening Star gleams brilliantly opaque, 
so I feel life of every soul on Earth 
that eddies with atomic flash of love 
far from the city stage on Helicon. 

My spirit, too long trapped in creeds of faith, 
entombed inside strict duty of the church, 
urged me to open door of fearful rage, 
so I now walk with hawk-winged heart of hope 
across the rugged hills of Arcady 
where star-eyed Death waits still to hear my song.