The River Acheron Poem by Chris Zachariou

On the first day of June
she crossed the lines of innocence
and was budding to the world.

She walked into the forest
with timid steps and a smile of sin
dancing on her newborn breasts.

Together we sang lullabies,
and played love songs on my guitar
once taught me by the master.

Aroused by our sinless flesh
under a star-strewn sky, we shed
our seven veils of modesty

innocence was lost in innocence
and in the shade of the acacia tree
we loved openly and without guilt.

I thought God was good
I thought God was kind
and I thanked him for his gift.

But my god was a jealous god
and he killed her in the morning.

Now she is calling me to go
and I, with an unfinished song
and my broken guitar across my back
I must sail the river Acheron.