The Crystal City

Scaling peaks, I sometimes fall
     sliding sands slow the climb
Fumbling feet, legs a-quiver
     choking dust, left and right
Spirits, bodies, disappear
     into chasms rent through time.

Crawling forth now, hands and knees
     the summit fills my sight
Striking through the mists and trees
     gold, cerise, rose and lime!
Haul this carcass o’er the crest
     and into bright sunlight.

Standing on that mountain top
     heaving chest, clothed in grime
Abandoning past intent
     alarmed at this new plight
Rainbow mountains everywhere
     surrounding fields of thyme!

And far off in the distance, the crystal city’s spires
Glint and tease and beckon, a wind chime of desires.

For seven years I journeyed
     through vales of clementine
Trekking alps of breathing hell
     exhaustion by my side
Pray! this soul would live to reach
     that city so divine.

Our sun had reached it’s zenith
     so hope picked up a ride
Alas! laid out before me
     tho’ city’s heights doth shine
A river flows, so deep and pure
     to bar my path inside.

Amber-walled with gates of quartz
     no vision could refine
Beneath the streams, the jaws of
     alligators yawn wide
Oh! onyx kerbs, citrine streets
     these eyes brim full with brine.

Sparkling eyes like peridot, behind you see the fires
Smiles, it seems, with reptile minds, this gut to fear inspires

Battling through the centuries
     losing all the while
Bleeding hearts and artists know
      they aren’t the battling type
But oh! that city beckons
     It’s light just makes me 🙂

Could I find a way across?
     my theories are cold tripe
Eventually I’d learn ways
     to keep them quite docile
‘Gator guards are living too
     I won’t believe the hype

I take a stick, throw it far
     “These methods I revile!
I’m worn, I’m weak, can hardly speak
     Our history I wipe.”
She’s ending feuds despite her will
     “Let’s take a different style”

I can’t speak of everything compassion’s gift requires
Smiling back at alligators, brought my heart’s desires.