He speaks to her pathetically of his father-love,
Seeking her forgiveness for his regal lunacy
No answer from her once-honey lips returns
while salt tears nestle in his tawny beard
Still dampened from the aureated waters of the Pactolus.
He reaches out to touch once-flaxen hair
She doesn't flinch or brush away the hand
Accusingly she stares, silent, inscrutable
Gilded eyes, creations of this alchemist,
Their lustre mirrored in lavish surround -
Grotesque gold garden of a greedy Phrygian King
To Dionysus, God of lifes force, he stumbles a prayer,
To return him to that time before his avaricious folly
That she would not be doomed to stare at him forever.
The Golden Child stirred, luminescence dimmed peach-pink
And Midas touched her caramel cheek and wept.
Author notes
A tale of Midas, whose greed led to him accidentally turning his daughter to gold. Dionysus, who had granted his wish that all he touched would turn to gold, relented and bade him wash in the river Pactolus, which gradually removed the spell. The Pactolus still bears gold traces in its sands.
Ref: www.pantheon.org/articles/m/midas.html
Written May 12th, 2005
In a list
A contest entry
- Color: Gold by Melissa Gayle.
300 points, ended May 13, 2005, 15 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - The Seven Deadly Sins by Genesis.
1200 points, ended August 20, 2008, 17 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - the seven deadly sins. by the.art.of.drowning.
900 points, ended September 13, 2008, 22 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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This is a great storey turned into a beautiful poem. I also think this storey has so many symbols.
I love how you really did your research, knowing Dionysus was the god of life. -
Great write! I love how you really pulled on the emotions that the king would have felt, had this been a true to life story. Thank God it is not!
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Thank you for entering my contest. I'm addicted to mythology, especially Greek. I like the way you told this story in poetic form. It is very well written. Kudos to you.
--Genesis. -
an enjoyable read
You write so well with your poem full of feeling and emotion.
I shuddered a sigh of helplessness as I read it. Poor girl.
A poem which engenders such feelings must be a poem of quality.
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I really enjoyed this and your AN are very interesting as well. Thank you for posting.
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Bravo
A wonderful poem PJ and you wove the story beautifully.How haunting and the imagery was perfect.
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Jane,
Thanks for the kind comments on "Alchemist". Thru this contest I've discovered an interesting tactic for use when the muse deserts - research! Tho' Gold should have been an easy, lyrical write, I couldn't put a stumbling line together, so focussed on one idea (Midas), googled up some information ( as I only had a dim recollecton of the story), and it was just a question of word arrangement after that. Feels a bit less satisfying than writing from the soul, but I've been reasonably happy with this one, also 'Ildeth', 'Indigo Child', 'Potters Field' and 'Ides of March', on which I deployed the same tactic.
Thanx again!
PJ -
I have to always read your notes first because I know that I will learn something, then I go back and read the piece and the points emphasized enhance the notes. This was wonderfully written, with perfect flow.
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Great piece! I love reading of mythology and such. This story is well told here. Nice flow to it as well. Best of luck in the contest. Blessings, Gypsy
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oh midas touch indeedy.....
elaine
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When I read this first I was like "Wha?" But after reading the back story, I went crazy! I love history-ish poems. "Grotesque golden garden of a greedy Phrygian King" is my favorite line. I can just see Midas crying to his daughter. It's sad. I love how you interperted this.
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