The Mad Alchemist

He looked at snow filled streets from his window

collected birds and beads

-

Like a recluse

he

stayed in the walls of his castle

and never let her in 

-

He, the alchemist

mixed 

hopes with dreams and dreams with fear,

mixed

songs of escape with moods of melancholy;

mixed

her emotions with his paintings

.

He looked at passing night skies from behind his lenses

collected berries, spirits and memories

-

Like a reckless recluse

he

erased his impressions

and misplaced women with things

-

He, the mad alchemist

fused

love with desires and desires with panic,

fused

songs of beauty with moods of malice;

fused

her story with his misgivings

.

In the end

Rudolf II, the master of images

died, very sick

Shringi

Feburary 5, 2017

Painting: Vertumnus (portrait of Rudolf II) by Giuseppe Arcimboldo in Milan c. 1590- 1591

The poem is inspired by my twisted history and that of Emperor Rudolf II of Austria, "The Mad Alchemist" 

Two of Him, Half of Me

And love took me to another place

but my shadow stayed

And love gave me flowers, songs and days

but my shadow craved

.

My shadow bled, hurt and crawled

but my love, carried it all

My shadow mocked, cheated and lurked

but my love, loved it all

Shringi

February 3, 2017

Painting: The Meat Train by Mark Ryden