Athena's mother told Zeus,
"I will bear children mightier than you"
So Zeus swallowed Athena's mother
To keep her words from ever coming true.
Poor boy,
Poor boy,
There are things that even gods
Can and cannot do.
Inside her mother's body,
Athena already magnificently grew.
Inside of Zeus's body
Athena's mother grew revenge enough for two.
Poor boy,
Poor boy,
There is no telling what a righteous angry woman
Can really do to you.
Athena's midwife was the labrys.
From Zeus's forehead, Athena sprang unharmed.
Behold your daughter, born a goddess,
She arrives fully formed and fully armed.
Poor boy,
Poor boy,
Athena, mistress of war and wisdom,
Has come to deal with you.
Athena brought an owl and a lion--
The owl grew more loyal,
The lion simply grew.
Zeus's daughter, in his dotage, will remind him
There are things that even gods
Can and cannot do.
___________
Labrys--a double sided axe
A really good poem. Flawless is what I can say about this. I think you should call yourself Wordsmith or Wordsmithy than Fireblossom!
ReplyDeleteWhoa!!! And that was WAY before Prilosec was invented!!
ReplyDeleteMorale of the story is chew, do not simply gulp down your goddesses
ReplyDeleteYou are a genious woman and goddess, you are! ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd they cannot stop a woman from being. I loved this on Shay. and that is an incredible illustration.
ReplyDeletethere is? haha very cute. if you are interested in books, allow me to recommend 'gods behaving badly' by marie phillips; i think it is one you may enjoy :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent!
ReplyDeleteThis is why I'm happy I'm not a god. All the jealousy and worry would drive me bonkers.
ReplyDeleteUnlike Zeus, I'd be happy for Athena's mother to bear a child mightier than me...if it was a girl child, all the better :-)
Oh, Chica, you've outdone yourself with this one...a beautiful warning. I should have a few men I know read this.
ReplyDeleteSHeeks the Greeks sure know how to make a God!
ReplyDeleteaaaah, beware the goddess...
ReplyDeletewow, you really portrayed wrath like no other! hats off!
ReplyDelete"Don't fool with Mother Goddess." (insert thunderbolt.)
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I'm imagining this...Born out of a head, fully armed; Daddy turned mommy into a fly in order to swallow her...and I thought I have problems.
Just imagine the headaches that man must have had during the gestation period.
I love the repetition. It gives this an almost hypnotic feel.
ReplyDeleteWow, again, I read this one a couple of times and just worded and expressed perfectly!
ReplyDeleteI love this one. Beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteI've always loved this myth.