
The Gods (a photo)

One look into Medusa’s eyes, you turn to stone
as Perseus knows – but the demigod is brave
he must save his princess
there’s no getting in his way
deep in the Underworld, toss a gold coin to
cross the awful river
Medusa slinks + slithers in her temple
‘till he slices off her head
uses it to kill the Kraken –
oh! how the gods play games with us
atop Olympus
one day they’ll pay for this
when they’re gone, forgotten
when we move to monotheism +
Zeus, Poseidon, the rest are studied
instead of worshipped.
(Photo from themarysue.com)
Note: I was inspired to write this poem after watching the movie Clash of the Titans – both the original 1981 version and the remake from 2010.
Listen to these sirens sing, see how beautiful they are –
from afar, their chanting quickens my pulse + my
body aches with desire – but beware of this fire
that consumes mortal men, traps them,
sends them to the bottom of stormy seas,
lungs filled with saltwater ‘till life is no more –
sure, you’d like to see these maidens up close,
see their golden skin glow – if only I could
rip off these ropes! I hope their insanely sweet songs
don’t drive my mind to an oblivion from which
I shall never return – how I burn to see them,
to free them! But wouldn’t their voices unleash
destruction upon the masses?
(Photo from theoi.com)