the ruby spires
there, among those Ruby Spires
stood I, a-gazing toward the mist
red winds cut skin, heaven-kissed
much too cold for hellish fires ...
worlds and suns behind us, then
a wormhole's eddy swallowed us
the joys of youth so turned to dust
for sakes of aged and gloried men
for such an odyssey, we crossed
three clusters full of matter, dark
to find a rare and conscious spark
of life, (though life is what it cost)
while I, their doubtless proxy, was
I deemed no debts to human kind
and so that conflict there did bind
that pact for brilliant alien cause ...
my own, one naught-but-violent race
had found these beings far from home
and sought to then rewrite their tome
with man’s corrupt and vain disgrace
yet 'fore we could our ruin, spread
that planet's microbe chaperones
wreaked mortal plague on us alone
'til naught but I, were cold and dead
so then, those sentient souls and I
did journey up the mountain's base
until we'd reached one jagged face
with crimson columns to the sky …
toward every side save one we saw
for endless breadth that ruby sphere
vermilion glows - both far and near -
that wondrous planet's crystal maw
the sparkling slopes of gemstone red
that slanted downward, out of sight
were being swallowed by the night
and still, no trail had shown ahead ...
hence, far too late to turn around
we’d giv’n our mortal fate its due
that gorgeous red, exquisite view
our blessed eyes alone had found
such dazzling visions thus beheld
that far exceeded all we'd known
that held us transfixed as a stone
a yearning that could not be quelled
the colors argued conscious thought
midst lights and angles inconceived
bright iridescence ne'er believed
were we not witness on that spot
through brumal opalescent glows
refracting hues with garnet glares
prismatic sparkles here-and-there
and dancing flakes of scarlet snow
in rainbow shafts of glist'ning light
and swirling phosphorescent sprays
lit shimm’ring tints in broad displays
that flashed then faded out of sight
soft pastel shades we'd never known
reflected beams from crystal shards
the wondrous brood of godly bards
were blessings, ours and ours alone
such vistas words can not construe
a beauty language shan't appease
that brought us weeping to our knees
and found us shaken, thru-and-thru ...
yes, we had risked our lives and lost
but that rare sight was worth it then
the dreams so granted grander men
then brought to sight at greatest cost
the breathless joy that view inspired
was paid for with our souls, you see
that covenant made, to wander free
for ever ... 'midst those Ruby Spires!
Copyright © 2024 Wheelsong Books UK ‘Melancholy Moon’ by Gregory Richard Barden
Copyright ©
Gregory Richard Barden
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