What do I know of spring in my gloomy realm?
I only know that Persephone is gone
to make her mother happy in the long days
of sunlight above.
Here our light comes from the hardness of rubies
or from the glint of metal in the cold seams
the only music from the dumb aquifer
a senseless mutter.
Betimes Hecate comes a-visiting me
and bothers me with some horrid tale of gore
so that her company is loathsome and dull
divine in no wise.
Or Jupiter himself tramps in unannounced
with what he considers kingly merriment
but is to me the mere rattle of brass pots
in a stone basin!
You see, I am the god of gloom and half-light
so how can I tell if my murk increases?
Everything is twilight here in any case
never night nor day.
The brightest thing in all my eternity
is Persephone with her eyes of starshine
brought from the skies above my vaulted ceiling
to make their magic.
See here the chapel that I have built to her
of gems and geodes and of free-running gold
its central shrine calcified for ever more
– the pomegranate…
[c] 2006
Author notes
As the theme of this contest is classical, I have used a classical verse-form - my beloved Sapphic - to tell a little part of a tale. Here above ground we share Ceres' joy at the presence of her daughter Persephone, because we know spring and high summer, and her desolation with the leaf-fall of autumn and the hardness of winter. We have little idea how the god of the underworld feels, when he is bereft of her for six months, so ...
Written February 8th, 2006
In a list
A contest entry
- Favorite Greek or Roman Mythology Story by Ethereal One.
300 points, ended February 16, 2006, 8 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 30 of 30
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Ahhh yes.. the now famous pomegranate strikes again, with some the poet's finest verse, resting on its shoulders.
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I thought a Persephone was what ladies carried in their poketbooks to get calls.LOL
When I read your stuff Mairi bheg, I know I'm going to learn something, and that I'd better have a dictionary handy. No one else on this site does that to me. Nor do I let.LOL
Rabbi Johnavitch
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Glad you dug this one up, and glad you dug it.
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{smiling} Almost the tale of a cereal killer - I am glad you like this one, Janet. SMOOSH
Edited on May 19, 2:29 p.m. because ''. -
I like myths irrevent
with contradictions often sent
how darkness and light
fight, love, betray impolite.
Smoosh
Janet -
{bows} My thanks to all the pixies who visited here and congratulated me. Hugs to you all.
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Congratulations my sweet, happy pixie. You deserved trophy.
This is realy nice poem. Flovers for you
~Sonja~ -
Beautiful piece, my fellow Pixie. You are truly deserving of the trophy you won. Congratulations and lots of Pixie love!
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You are so smart and I am autodidact so I'll just have to learn from you. Wow.
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great poem nice write
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Many thanks
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Congrats!
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Thanks Malice - i'll check it out.
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very good, if you ike poetry about women of myth and so forth, see my poem 'the tears of jezabel,' it takes a different slant on the wicked litttle diva...
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Thank you for your praise and good luck wish, Charishma. Wow! I don't think I have ever had one of my things called a masterpiece before!
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Masterpiece
Wow! This is spectacular. I felt as if I was there watching it all, seeing the gems, etc. I enjoyed most the part about Jupiter coming along in the merriment mood. A nice contrast of moods is visible here, i.e., that of Jupiter and that of the God of gloom and half light. I love the last two stanzas. Actually, I think the entire poem is a masterpiece and I wish you goodluck in all you do.
All the best in the contest,
Charishma
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Thank you very much, Nightshade13. I appreciate the comments.
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ooo i love the story of persephone! if i become inspired soon im going to do something about theem! anyways, i love the imagery and how acurate the facts are in this but it still retains its good language and being acurate at the same time! excellent write and good luck in the contest!
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Exactly right, Kochibo - just seen from a different angle.
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Very pretty. This is Demeter and Persephone, right? I like the story, quite sad~
~Leasha -
Bravo!
Just plain EXCELLENT poetery with perfect meter! Loved it! Bravo! -
Looks great Mairi. I am so happy that you are writing again. I know what it is like when the words just won't come to you.
etherealforu
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Thank you sis. We can thank etherealforU too - it was her contest which inspired me.
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Most Excellent
You bring forth incredibly clear images, creating times and places so vivid it seems I could almost step inside and be carried away. I love that in this you set a tone of gloom and cold in the first two verses, then took these same images and made them warm and beautiful in the last two verses. Such a gift...even when claiming writers block... -
It worked!
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Thanks for giving me something to make the words flow after a period of being rather blocked. (I am about to make another attempt to change the background)
Edited on Feb 08, 12:14 because 'forgot to invoke the nymph of the keyboard'. -
very well written
Very beautiful poem of sadness and longing. Your words draw some very powerful images to the readers mind. Thank you for entering this contest, and good luck to you.
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No - could do nothing about the background. Live for me, my words!
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Hello Melodies. I uploaded this poem at work, and my PC crashed before I could even add a background and colour to it. I wonder if there is some way I can do that now - I shall see later. Thank you for your praise - maybe this poem will have to stand or fall on the merit of its words alone.
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Methinks you will surely win the contest with this lovely poem of pondering. I especially like the last stanza and can see the gems and all...
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