Chimera

Like a blue screen
Playground of delightful visions
Of rolling green plains
Edging into dark forests
Where dwell the warrior elves
Dreamy vampires cavort with pixies
Where dwarfs mine the underworld
And overground, the peacocks dance

See the horse black as night
With a dark rider on its back
Fly across jungles, jumping brooks,
Swerve stray branches, threading shallow rivers
Long hair of sleek warrior and horse
Streaming banners behind them;
As majestic strides eat up furloughs
And the youth drinks of the sun’s rays

A butterfly wings its way on to the passing mare
To ask “what’s the hurry, fast friend”
The horse snorts, shakes its nightly mane
A tinkly laughter flows from the warrior
“Towards home we go: tonight is a festive night
The moon shows its full face; the wolves will be out
Sibilant shadows will scurry, scarred by pale specters;
Under the swaying palms, around the burning fire
I will lead the dance of watchers and white knives
Even as the drums shall thrill and strings shall strum.”

The dark one offers his hand
And lets the little being hop on
Caresses its wings; such sad love in his eyes
With a sigh as cold as the autumn breeze
Softly lands the being on the golden flower
“Ah friend, would that you could come to us,
Alas! The shimmering trees find you too flighty
Their ancient presence pondering matters weighty.”

Here the brave one giggled like one young
With a neigh and a “I race the east wind home”
The dark pair sped off deep into the forest
Onwards to the majestic waterfall
Shielding curious eyes from curious goings-on
A land best left alone; lest the ancients
Surprise us with a visit in our dark dreams.