Golden Pantoum Elegy

A huge bead of sweat dripped from my brow as I heaved myself up the side of the mountain and onto the top of the cliff. I scanned my surroundings, and much to my dismay I could see nothing but an endless sea of trees. I briefly consulted my weathered map, and then headed south into the gargantuan forest.1

I had been travelling for six days now, but my journey was nearing an end. One week ago in the Portshead Tavern, a screaming old man had charged inside ranting about a hidden treasure on the island of Rina. According to the story, an ancient Egyptian pharaoh had left a huge sum of gold there which no one had ever found. Instantly, the men in the tavern creased with laughter and ushered him outside, but I was not so hasty to judge, and followed him out into the chilly night.2

“He was mental,” claimed the man, “a paranoid schizophrenic left to rule a massive empire. It was not long before he fled, taking huge riches along with him. He was chased down by the Egyptians, and was eventually caught and killed. The gold, however, was a different story.” 3

I had listened intently to the man’s story, and as barbaric as it seemed I did believe him. I knew more about him than the other men in the tavern. Just like the pharaoh who he spoke of, he was completely mad. Conversely, he was not a liar. Although he did not know it, he was my grandfather, yet his mind was so occupied with other things that he knew nothing of family or love anymore. He was gifted. He could know things that others couldn’t, so I would heed his words and claim the gold.4

He gave me a map, and I thanked him dearly; tears flooding my eyes as he nodded and walked away. He had simply told another tale to another stranger, nothing more. I bit my lip hard and headed for my home.5

After stocking up on supplies, I had rowed out to the island and trekked through forest and desert, and that was how I found myself at the top of this cliff.6

As I broke through the first few trees, the light suddenly disappeared, and I headed forwards in half-light. The powerful smell of damp attacked my nostrils instantly, and I just longed to be on the other side of the forest as soon as possible. Strange and foreign animal calls chilled my ears, and I assured myself I would not be spending the night here.
Luckily, the only life I seen within the forest was tranquil plant life. Calm green leaves merged with spindly yellow stems resting against powerful grey-brown tree trunks. 7

When I eventually broke through the trees, the wave of fresh air overwhelmed me, and I allowed myself my first smile in a week. The only thing standing in front of me was a mineshaft, exactly as promised on the map. I travelled downwards, the cold metal rungs of the ladder chilling my skin.8

As I reached the bottom my shoes became half-submerged in water. I was standing at one end of a cavern, about twenty metres in diameter. Small, imperceptible rocks cluttered the ground, but one large treasure chest stood in the middle, and my greedy eyes became glued to it. I began walking forwards, but soon broke into a sprint as the tension was clawing at me. I yanked the lid open and screamed. It was empty! The only object inside was a small roll of parchment, looking incredibly ancient. I took hold of it an read quickly with shaking hands.9

~~~~~10

Tears flood from my tired face;
I question why I’m still here,
People are always angry.
The gold is well hidden.11

I question why I’m still here,
I need not worry,
The gold is well hidden
In an invisible fantasy.12

I need not worry
About my isolationism
In an invisible fantasy,
My tired eyes won’t shut.13

About my isolationism
People are always angry,
My tired eyes won’t shut;
Tears flood from my tired face.14

~~~~~15

A poem? 16

“A poem!” I exclaimed, fury overcoming me. I picked up a rock and hurled it as hard as I could, and then growled at the dull thud as it hit the floor. I read the parchment again, and again and again. Was the gold here or not? Was it even real?17

In my anger I punched the misleading treasure chest as hard as I could, and yelped as my knuckles shattered. I lay on my back, tears streaming down my cheeks. Exhausted… 18

BANG! It suddenly turned pitch-black; the mineshaft entrance had been closed. I was trapped! I flew up the ladder and banged on the trapdoor but it wouldn’t move. I grasped the ladder with my broken right hand and then screamed in pain, and the shock threw me backwards. I fell down, and crashed in a heap on the ground.19

Tears flood from my tired face.20