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"