Odes, From Kubla Khan To The Mighty Tigris And Euphrates Rivers Poem by Captain Cur

1) Odes, Kubla Khan
2) Ode To Pirate Sun, Sea, Wind And Rain
3) Odes, Ending Of An Age
4) Odes, Spirit Of The Earth
5) Odes, Tigris And Euphrates

Odes, Kubla Khan (1)

Naked Venus of desire
the Evening Star of man's unrest
adorned in dreams of wanton fire
was charmed by Kubla Khan's request
and sent this message East and West.
"Renowned craftsmen from afar
nursed on visions Khan has seen
instilled with constructs of the stars
shall build his pleasure dome's decree."

Buried stones of enormous girth
compressed and gardened by the earth
upon these stones his Kingly prize
Khan's tall white structure will arise
with chiseled columns that shall breach
through balustrades that rise beneath,
amid the raging skies of blue
the center of the dome of pleasure
will twin the sun at the height of noon
and in the evening's gemstone treasure
adorn the anklet of the moon.

Below in caverns hollowed by the waves
strange creatures in the darkness thrive;
they swim the sea with lidless eyes,
with instincts soul map myriad caves
with black nocturnal sight;
creatures glow through endless night
and in their spine each tiny spark
colors dance from drop to drop,
florescent creatures lone delight
rejoicing in each faint speck of light.

But oh! the passageway that leads
suspended between the mountain and the gate
upon these terrible heights the clouds give siege
bright lightning strikes and thunder quakes,
and through this rite on charging steeds
Khan bequeaths his reign of dreams.

The archway at the precipice
vaults deep into the rock
and the force of the intermittent fountains
lifts their two bride stones to unlock
the entrance grate to the covered mountain
that is fed by the falling ice
where trickling streams fall fast and ever
melting in persuasive light
each drop sounding its harp-like measure
as the creatures sing in the sea of night.

The dome of the Mount of Pleasure
appears floating on the rays
supported by frozen fountains
of an ocean's sunless waves.

Venus awoke to this new sight
a floating pleasure dome
on waves of ice!

Ode To Pirate Sun, Sea, Wind And Rain (2)

Pleasant intermittent rhythms
voiceless smiles that transverse space
sunlight plays in raindrop prisms
each one falls to intrigue my face.
Sweet swipes my tongue's long liquid taste
across parched lips of cooling thirst
pool in cloud's white veils misty lace
where each drop claims to bathe me first
naked to the wind singing odes to sea and earth.

Flower of the deep sea blossom;
Poseidonia and Mangrove,
blue light filters tall seagrass hums
beneath your waves throughout your coves
rhizome fills your lush treasure troves.
Aquamarina fruited leaves
dress orange red reefed coral droves
twines up coifs cliff side rising eaves;
the budding mermaid's dirge alluring as she grieves.

Slight ripples streak your polished glass
preambles rouse your dozing waves
still my sails stationary mast
upon your paused symphonic staves.
Orchestral banded wind invades
the restless beauty of your lake
each fluted note and horn pervades
the shores and landlines you will break
with tidal drums as mankind trembles in your wake.

Odes, Ending Of An Age (3)

In this the newfound pleasure that I share
writing odes to sun, sea and wind;
dark midnight bares
where stars in their black ocean swim
with steady faithful eye they brightly stare
upon me their guest. My heavenly host
with beauteous face
they fast approach
and give their light to me
regardless of my caste or place.

Constellations bestow
hope's eternal glow
influences that remain
quilted patterns sown on endless breeze
shaped according to their name,
twelve signs embrace the sea
newly risen for each human birth,
I, a small shadow watch their show,
revolve round those
who live to warm the frigid earth.

Daylight's dawn displays passing of the sun
within her fingers, rays
point hours of the day;
my life is measured by her fiery tears
her revolutions age me with short years,
my choices I become;
free me now from all my stifling fears
remind me of the battles I have won
relive the youthful passions of the young
rejoice in me unburdening my cares.

Can newfound thoughts redeem
what ails me
with the true mind of alchemy?
If life is but a dream
what clever newness to each scene
that sets the stage
the curtain raised, the curtain falls
the ending of an age.

Odes, Spirit Of The Earth (4)

O Spirit of the Earth, where do you dwell?
For I require your deep sustenance,
within the ancient rivers of your well,
beyond your grassy highland's green expanse,
beneath the mounting furor of your waves.
Come to me! I crave your highland greens,
your river swells, the fury
of your rising dawn's deadly deep romance.

Midnight sounds, the veil of your sister woods
drowning the retreating silence, heavy
under the dark shroud of your sightless hood,
listening, to the hills calling to the sea
with whispered kiss, sweat shivers on my skin;
I see contours, the shadow of their dance
making love as the moist sea travels wind
plush showers, the accepting lover's glance
that burns me, most seductive of planets
I cannot contain my primordial sin.

Upon your utopian fields, grass thrives,
wind weaves between their pointing finger threads
flit and flutter directions to their lives
at night they lay upon their golden beds
and dream of morning clouds and drenching rains
charmed by trees of tall evergreens and red
blushing leaves that house birds and hidden hives
worker bees ignore throaty bird's refrains
the grasslands meek; yet, stalk the mighty plains.

I dwell in beauty's deep cavernous heart;
your mountain's bold tempestuous seasons
and with each floating seed a newer start,
messengers of life, nomadic legions
rejuvenate my soul. I am in love
with every flower that embraces you
with the dewy scent of their maiden pride
tender mouthfuls, ripe, decadent to view
marginal ways with steep rock cliff cover
full exposed to the privilege of my eye
they grow inside you, their virgin lover.

O Spirit of the Earth, where do you dwell?
Are you without the massive starry nights?
Do you live beneath sunless waves of light?
I am confined within your orbits spell.

Odes, Tigris And Euphrates (5)

Each thought you sound through your soft verse
I replay them to my ear
and each next line is to the first
a melody sweet to hear
as the seamless words flow with grace
they are whispered on my tongue,
you teach them all to mind their place
then commingle when their sung.
A simple truth needs complex care
colored waves complete in white
then what this simple truth I share
has no product, has no right,
on what rare tree does your fruit grow
as it stands between the two,
where Tigris and Euphrates flow
what I write, I write to you.

Envisioning your length, your reach
as you channel to the last
tributaries you seal and breach;
yet, forever in your grasp,
upon the apron of your lakes
can I but embrace them all
then nothing more my heart forsakes
as your fruit begins to fall.
Between the rhythms of your waves
life implants her tender seed
through sunlight's procreating rays
each flowering plant will feed,
upon their leaves they drink the dew
which escapes the breath of night
within their hearts the nectar pools
and transforms the banished light.

What ancient land divides the two?
What history of her art?
Mesopotamia, to you
wedged between where rivers start
and flow their course, their race to sea
then empty with a searing toll
pins the basin with their mighty
surge and fills your Persian soul.