lunacy in a clay cup;
cracked maenads warbling in a daze on the treacherous hillside.
horned silhouettes dancing on the night of a million stars.
bitter herbs, ingested by starlight;
bloodied lips, willing sacrifice.
seeking the world beneath.
dionysus thrashing in dying ivy,
tainted seeds bursting upon his tongue.
a mixture of blood and dust in a glazed goblet.
the green scent of rain in a mossy temple of fertility;
the vegetable gods, awakening.
writhing vapors, questing for life.
a fire in the darkness, illuminating the soul within,
revealing a barbed and secret path.
the moon whispering in a plaintive, honeyed tongue.
an offering of rose petals and earthen musk,
burnt honey and sour wine;
in exchange for a lifetime of disjointed memories swaddled in fleeting, fermented dreams.