the heft of enormous boulders.
It could be that our gravity has changed,
or that these rocks are newly made
of a matter with greater density.
I'm ever an enthusiast
for Greek myth, its stories penned far away
in fertile fields of elites bred
from the straying loins of finely flawed gods.
That's what I tell most, but I couldn't
tell you any details about twelve labors,
monsters taken, torn asunder.
Hercules must have shouldered his burdens,
I imagine, froth at the mouth,
drawing on his inner strength to support
the brunt of a weighty world's cares.
Or was that Atlas? The question may be
moot, examining my own thighs.
— Francis Scudellari
This poem is written in response to Read Write Prompt #109: beg, borrow, steal at Read Write Poem. This was a "wordle" prompt, click on the first link to see the 13 suggested words.
19 comments:
Examining your own thighs indeed!
Atlas look alike heh? Enjoyed this Francis.Very clever!
This was beautifully whimsical.
Very neatly and gracefully managed. I wish you hadn't highlighted the stimulus words, though. This stands four-square in its own right.
Hi Francis,
"straying loins of finely flawed gods"
They have a lot to answer for!
Beautifully rendered!
"
I'm ever an enthusiast
for Greek myth, its stories penned far away
in fertile fields of elites bred
from the straying loins of finely flawed gods.
"
chugging train
How I enjoyed following the thoughts and contemplations and then... giggling at the end.
Well done.
Lots of fun with this. I love the line about the straying loins. ya got to give Zeus credit for sexual originality. I really like the way you gave the myths human scale, too. Thanks for the smile.
I like the specifics about the toils of Hercules. I agree with Dick that the poem stand well on its own - the links are unnecessary.
@Rallentanda Not very much like Atlas at all ;)
@Anthony I credit the gods for the whimsy :)
@Dick Thanks Dick. I took the advice about the italics. You're right, they were a distraction.
@Derrick Unfortunately they're irreproachable :)
@Gautami Thank you. That's my favorite stanza too.
@Julie If there was a giggle, that means it worked :).
@Briarcat Zeus was pretty clever about fulfilling his lusts, though Hera might not approve. I'm as glad to give a smile as to get one.
@DJ Thanks for the feedback... I went ahead and took out the links.
I like the casual declarative tone, and the way you compress classical culture so wittily, but then bring it around to the metaphorical burdens we all labor under. Great use of the words.
From Therese Broderick -- I so admire how this poem handles the concept of "weight" -- the weightiness of fact, myth, or of fact & myth filtered through an imperfect human mind (imperfect because of those compromised gods). The poem handles its own weightiness so well, shifting at the end to a lite touch. (I think of Sisyphus, too, the rolling stone guy).
you done a good job squeezing all the words in...between your thighs even.....makes it much better....thanks for sharing this
Rolling along right to the end for the final flash and chuckle. Wonderful!
Most impressive and a joy to read.
"from the straying loins of finely flawed gods."
Was a line that I especially enjoyed.
I really like the way the first two stanzas lead in to the musings about myth and heroes and our own troubles. The ending, too, is really well done.
The feeling of uncertainty that pervades this poem is intriguing.
I enjoyed this so much. Terrific use of the words.
I'm with Karen on this one.
Our wistful thinking, perhaps. The gods may be flawed, but they outdid themselves in both havocs and achievements, sometimes spectacularly so. Whereas we so often not dare to even try.
I enjoyed reading this and really liked your last stanza. :)
Insofar as Greek myths (or any other myths, for that matter) are concerned, I find that many of them are both mirrors of the culture that generated them and attempts to explain things -- how we came about, why we behave the way we do, etc. The myths also give clues as to what that culture valued.
Which is why I scratch my head sometimes reading them, even thought I do understand them.
Thanks for sharing.
-Nicole
Post a Comment