Who You Journey With

Who You Journey With
© Surazeus
2026 06 12

Who you journey with on rough road of life 
is far more important than where you go, 
so I keep you within scope of my eyes 
with attentive care to our circumstance 
to ensure your precious spirit is safe 
while I gather fresh fruit for you to eat. 

When Juturna finds creek of clear cold water 
trickling in thick woods between rugged hills, 
she follows sparkle of light into gloom 
till she finds spring that fountains from dark earth, 
so she proclaims to Janus with sweet voice 
that she has now found their forever home. 

Calling out to her mother, Rumina, 
older woman with long hair and green eyes, 
Juturna guides her to the fountain grove 
where they rest in shade of the broad fig tree 
as Janus plucks sweet fruit for them to eat, 
then brings them water in new turtle shells. 

Janus builds temple beside broad fig tree 
with oak for foundation of the firm floor, 
four silver firs as columns for roof beams, 
and cypress for walls and two sturdy doors, 
around stone hearth that preserves flame of light 
where Juturna and Rumina cook meals. 

When Juturna exclaims two cows are gone, 
Janus and their son Quirinus grab wands 
and track the cows to large bone-littered cave 
where the grim giant Cacus snarls in rage, 
so while Janus distracts him with sharp spear 
Quirinus leaps on his back with thick vine. 

After strangling greedy Cacus to death, 
Quirinus explores dark cave with bright lamp 
where he finds large diamond that glitters clear 
as ice-white silver moon on winter nights, 
so they bear it back to their temple home  
where Janus sets it firm on altar stone. 

Gazing deep in crystal sphere of pure light, 
Juturna sings verse of oracle spells 
describing visions she sees with her mind 
how the first flash flares forth from the big bang 
so threads of sparkling light form spinning globe 
from which gods and humans spring into life. 

When pregnant Juturna goes into labor, 
Rumina attends process of childbirth, 
then washes the new-born girl clean with care, 
so while Juturna nurses her with love 
Janus bestows name Carmenta with pride 
and gazes in eyes of his reborn mother.