Raucous Laughter Of Delight
© Surazeus
2026 03 18

While reading tragic tale of Oedipus,
composed by Cinaethon in epic verse
with elegant curved script Cadmus designed,
I hear someone in dim library gloom
erupt with raucous laughter of delight
that startles me from horror of despair.

Tiptoeing through labyrinth of tall book shelves
that winds deep in library hall of stone,
past statues of gods that stare in my soul,
I search for the mysterious personage
whose joyful laughter echoes in dim gloom,
trembling as I approach demon-carved door.

When I enter Finis Africae room,
hidden at core of vast library maze,
I see tall man in white robe stained with blood,
bearded face and brown eyes lit by stark light
that beams from cracked lamp of Diogenes,
contorted by laughter of frantic glee.

Shocked at sight of the tall elegant man
laughing with delight as he slaps his knee,
I wonder what elicits merriment
from solemn Jesus, son of Jupiter,
who doubles over with dizzy delight,
then wipes tears away as he slaps my arm.

Picking book up off the ground that he dropped,
I see it is the comic play named Clouds
that snarky Aristophanes composed
about that weird snub-nosed philosopher
named Socrates who played ignorant fool
to deflate egos of arrogant men.

Staring at Jesus, bemused by his joy
that seems in excess to the silly play,
I listen as he explains why he laughs
at how that wise fool fools wise men so well
because his clumsy frame hides divine soul
who teaches men to question their beliefs.

Leaning close, Jesus whispers in loud voice
that Jorge de Burgos, that grim buzzkill,
believes laughter ruins authority
the Church must exercise over all men
based on fear of damnation in hot Hell,
but laughter is the source of love in life.

Amused to see the son of Jupiter
laughing with delight at the comic play,
I join him in fruit garden by the pool
where he plays lyre of Mercury and sings
lyrics of Sappho that celebrate love
between friends while kids dance with graceful joy.

surazeus.blogspot.com/2026/03/…

Orpheus sits with Umberto Eco and Aristotle in the Crippled Pegasus Cafe by the Alpheus River to drink coffee and chat about the Poetics of Comedy.

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