Ruined Temple Of Diana
© Surazeus
2026 06 11

Today I am so happy being alive
that I forget to shout at the Blue Sky
about the problems humans cause each other
till I remember nobody is up there,
so I walk around streets of Rome to visit
Basilica of Santa Prudentiana.

Disgusted with the life I used to lead,
tricking people with scams to steal their money,
I rename myself after Novatus,
then journey to Lake Nemi that gleams blue
to sit by ruined Temple of Diana
and weep for the loss of beautiful souls.

When eerie voice of sorrowful desire
rings through dark forest of the eyeless wolf,
I walk toward mysterious grove that glows
with solemn anguish of the fallen angel
who sings with aching wisdom of the stars
about the man who sacrificed his soul.

Willing to die for the people he loves,
Prudentiana sings in gold moonlight,
the honest leader who came from the stars
nurtures every person with tender care
so we develop talents into skills
instead of enslaving us for his gain.

When I see three men with sharp spears and chains
grab Prudentiana with hands of lust,
and drag her toward their wagon cage of slaves,
I pick up shark rocks from the river shore,
whistle as I toss them high in the air
that whack them with my wand of liberty.

After cracking skulls of slavers with rocks,
I unlock wagon cage and set slaves free
who fall to their bruised knees with gratitude
and proclaim me savior sent down by Zeus,
then beg me to play shepherd of their clan,
so we journey forth to the Promised Land.

Rebuilding ruined Temple of Diana
with stones we haul from hill of granite cliffs,
we reinstate rituals of daily life,
tending gardens of herbs and herds of sheep,
with Prudentiana, our clever leader,
performing role of Domina Silvarum.

Gathered at round table heaped with good food,
we celebrate success of our new venture,
former slaves working rich communal farm,
as Lucina brings light and pitcher of juice,
so I strum lyre of Mercury and sing
that spirit of God lives in every heart.

surazeus.blogspot.com/2026/06/…

Orpheus presides at wedding of Novatus and Lucina in vine-shrouded bower on shore of Lake Nemi, then plays lyre as they feast under the stars of faith.

#Poetry #Poem #Pastoral #Necropastoral #MetaModernism #Transrealism #NewSublimity #NewRomanticism #AmericanDream #Cinemism #Existentialism #Surrealism #NegativeCapability #NewGnosticism #MetaRealism #NewTranscendentalism #Astarism