pain

FLYING FINGERS IN A STORM

DEDICATED TO DENISE FLETCHER & JAMES CORBESIA

 

Resonator road
Tin shack swamped
Sinking beneath
Vines and moss
Dueling guitars
Electronic sizzling
Thrift store treasure
Shoulda stayed there
But it competes against
Lightning spears
Searching the ground
In a wet backyard
Here’s the star
My acoustic tenor guitar
Smug and safe
No connections with
The storm
Although thunder roars louder
Than metal strings
But electric unplugs
Acoustic wins the
Aging game
With a hot patch
On osteo knobs
And now the music
Under the aegis of
Modern medical heat
Allows delicate fingers and tendons
To play and sing
For at least an hour
Lost in the bower
Of the space time forgot…

(c) 2018 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)
IMAGE: Dueling guitars

 

 

MODERN WOMEN/CLASSICAL PAIN

Medusa_by_Caravaggio

Plain young maiden, serpentine hair

Some say she’s ugly, not very fair

Living at the world’s edge, so little experience

But small towns don’t expect a daily appearance

***

Central shrine built on a jetty into the sea

Maiden nightly buffs marble floors hiding, apparently

Escapes the chit-chat encouraged by the sun

Light from the moon is kinder to such a one

***

Weekly, Athena comes to pay her wage

Criticizing despite being a respected mage

One night a man appears on the swirling sand

Ocean behind him eroding the spit of land

***

Handsome and strong he enters the room

Maiden rises from the floor, sensing her doom

“Stay,” he says, “Tell me who you are”

Maiden murmurs a plea to the evening star

***

“Speak up,” he orders and she recognizes him

The sea ruler Poseidon, desiring her on a whim

So many beautiful women in their city

Why does he want she who is not pretty?

***

Maiden turns, tries to run but is caught

He reeks of grapes, she cries out completely distraught

He leaves her bloody and bruised as she cries

Athena returns and accuses her of lies

***

“I curse you!” shouts the angry mage

“For tempting him you will suffer!” said in a rage

The maiden’s serpentine hair turns into snakes

A fitting crime, says Athena, as the maiden’s heart breaks

***

Her eyes tingle, Athena’s curse complete

Mage leaves as another man enters the shrine of deceit

He greets the maiden, looking into her face

Then turns to stone as snakes and eyes interlace

***

Maiden Medusa, driven from her home

Seeks revenge around her world that she will roam

Until Perseus beheads her with his famed sword

Using the shield in lands he has explored

***

Pegasus, winged horse, sprung from her head

A protective amulet that many learn to dread

Athena, wily mage, forces Perseus to yield

The head of Medusa to place in her shield

***

Ah, it seems to me that injustice always reigned

And plain women have always been constrained

Blaming the victim, especially in rape, has not changed

Although the words and meanings have been rearranged

***

Medusa, you were forced beyond your cognition

Your only talent lying in your submission

Luckless, loveless, lacking beauty

You nevertheless tried to do your duty

***

Medusa, modern women share your pain and honor you…

© 2015 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)

IMAGE: Medusa by Caravaggio