Thucydides Ascending

(Image Attribution: Elijah’s firey ascent into heaven. Огненное восхождение Ильи-пророка в небеса. Pskov School, 16th Century PD-US)

Thucydides Ascending

As I sat in meditation,
thinking of my life in bondage,
in an instant he descended
with mad flapping on my shoulder.

The Raven King, large for his kind.
My full effort for his perching.
Bearing message on some paper
he was on a purposed mission.
Even though I wasn’t starving,
was directed by Apollo.

Asked permission, then I took it,
from his beak, the folded letter.
It was Chalm’s, same kind of paper
that he kept on kitchen table,
always handy, at the ready.
In his scrawling script he wrote me,
words of hope that I share with you:

“Roland, I have reached my limit
and the universe is calling.
I would fly to resurrection.
With the ravens flying with me,
revel in my exultation.
Would you witness me in passing
through the air in cart of fire,
drawn by flying, flaming horses?
Blessings be upon your living,
trusting in your righteous mission
that the universe commences,
and enables, its intention.
You’re a vessel, take my message
to your brothers, from the ether.
Witness ascent to the heavens?
If you do, a double portion
of my spirit come upon you,
will invest you with great power
and whatever power lacking,
there is compense in your purpose.
If I see you looking skyward
from the ground that’s underneath me,
I will cast my magick headgear
from the side of flaming chariot.
It’s bright red, you’ll never miss it.
Catch it in your hand while falling.
It will be your magick totem.
Not for you alone but many!
Farewell, brother, I do love you.
Never fear, I will be with you
in my spirit ever after.”

As I read his final writing,
I at once formed my intention.
I would hurry to the valley
where it was that last I saw him.
So I ran, my knee was aching,
but I had to see him flying.
I remembered secret passage
hewn in rock straight through the mountain,
and the raven kept on leading
so I only had to follow.
I kept breathing by the lungful.
Not his cap but exhalations:
if I missed the magick headgear,
from Chalm’s breath, possess his pneuma.

As I ran into the valley,
in an instant, saw him flying.
Golden carriage drawn by horses,
from a battle he was leaving.
Chariot of fire burning,
but the flames did no consuming.
As he drove the horses upwards,
saw him lean out o’er the railing.
On his head, I saw it clearly,
its cone top was pointing forward.
It was red, he did remove it,
and he dropped it from the carriage.

There was little wind resistance
and it dropped straight from the heavens.
I continued with my running,
like a player with a fly ball.
Didn’t think that I would catch it.
At last instant with my diving,
my great effort in the jumping,
it was almost supernatural.
With Thucydides was flying,
but my journey always downwards
or at best was horizontal.