The three-dimensional seal ensured her dominion
over the land; with basilisks,
one of void and the other of fire,
so that whoever dares to cross the bridge
would turn to stone; it was impossible to be
anywhere near her, or was it?
Such a waste of men; their corpses silvered,
lie in lilac waters,
almost as though they have been preserved,
it baffles me, as to why she would collect them–
Medusa, pure as jade and clear as ice,
turned into a gorgon by Athena and thrown
to exile, now twining serpents adorn her head
and lips are dark as night.
Nonetheless, I climb the tower that would
lead me to her.
“I must applaud you for your courage, poetess! It
seems to me that you haven’t changed a bit
since the last time we met, am I right?”
I observe the basilisks eyeing me from behind
and choose to ignore.
“On the contrary, I nearly became cold
and cynical, had it not been for my latest endeavor.”
Medusa did not look amused.
“Pray, what have you to say to me this time? And
for goodness’ sake, don’t ask me to spare the lot of them.
I swallow what little shred of doubt
there was; “No, actually, I am not here to plead.
I am here to tell you, that you have less than a minute
before this tower crumbles.
“What rubbish! Have you lost your mind, Poetess?
This tower is made of iron not steel.
Unless you meant to threaten me metaphorically.”
I dodge both fire and void,
knowing the conversation had come to an end.
With one premeditated flip, I chop off the serpents
on her head.
Medusa screams, whether in horror or relief that remains
to be considered; “On the grave of Perseus,
I’ve never met an insufferable woman such as you!”
I concede, from this day on, any man who dares to venture
out here amid the black mountains
will lose sight of the island. He will be forced to return
where he came from. There! Are you satisfied?”
I lend her wildflowers to cover her bare head
in response.
Also read: Untitled (treading along the grasses of reverie) Part 1
Photo credits: Pinterest
Posted for OLN #348 – Two Opportunities to join us LIVE @dVerse Poets Pub
26 Responses
Love these parts:
“their corpses silvered,
lie in lilac waters,
almost as though they have been preserved,
it baffles me, as to why she would collect them–”
“What rubbish! Have you lost your mind, Poetess?
This tower is made of iron not steel.
Unless you meant to threaten me metaphorically.”
“I lend her wildflowers to cover her bare head
in response.”
Thank you so much, Melissa 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
so that whoever dares to cross the bridge
would turn to stone; it was impossible to be
anywhere near her, or was it?
Love your long poem, Sanaa! Dark writing getting to be mysteriously enjoyable to read! Great write!
Hank
Thank you so much, Hank 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
I enjoyed hearing your read your great poem, Sanaa.
Thank you so much, Dwight 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
It was good hearing you read this at our OLN session
Much💛love
Thank you so much, Gillena 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️
Much love back 🥂
Sanaa! You bold poet – venturing where others fear to tread – righting an evil and compassionately covering her head afterwards – superb…
Hahaha! Thank you so much, Andrew 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
I love writing poems on Greek Mythology 🥂
Intriguing! I like the idea of chopping the serpents off her head.
Thank you so much, Reena 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
This is a mesmerizing read, Sanaa. Go poetess!!!
Thank you so much, Jennifer 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️
Even Medusa is prey to the warrior poetess! Long may she live. Exciting read, Sanaa.
Thank you so much, Dora 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
I love poems based on mythology, Sanaa, and Medusa is one of my favourite characters, so I really enjoyed treading along the grasses of reverie with you. I especially liked the imagery in the lines:
‘… waste of men; their corpses silvered,
lie in lilac waters,
almost as though they have been preserved’
and
‘Medusa, pure as jade and clear as ice,
turned into a gorgon by Athena and thrown
to exile, now twining serpents adorn her head
and lips are dark as night’.
The conversation between Medusa and the poetess is genius, as are the unexpected lines:
‘With one premeditated flip, I chop off the serpents
on her head’.
I’m so glad she was lent ‘wildflowers to cover her bare head’.
Awww gosh! Thank you so much, Kim 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
Sanaa, I love mythology in poetry and this is excellent. Your imagery is so rich, it draws me into the poem. And, that last line! Wild flowers to cover her bare head! Brilliant!
Thank you so much, Colleen 😀 so glad you liked it! 💄❤️
What a clever poetess! I enjoyed your poem greatly.
Thank you so much, Ali 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️
I loved hearing you read this, Sanaa. Sorry for the delay and for missing Saturday’s session–a busy week.
I laughed at this,
“Medusa screams, whether in horror or relief that remains
to be considered;”
But it is an interesting question! 💙
Thank you so much, Merril 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
An absolutely fascinating retake on the Medusa legend – or elaboration on it.
Thank you so much, Rosemary 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️