Far to the west in Albion,
Mordred, with wet face
Clings to his ageless mother,
Her talons insure the beast
Past the serpent’s stare
The crows picking at the scarecrow’s hair.
Within within within
Cuts Cerberus free.
Catullus on the streets again
Cuts the pussy loose,
Within.
The coliseum shadows awe,
Again within
The blood a cleansing raiment worn
By claimants from the holy wall,
And flows on Pompey’s raft
Through the mighty shaft.
wide and Deep
Balboa, finally,
And all the ancient curses
Wept racing from the deep.
Aye, prophecy pounding on the proud,
Delivering their shroud.
Of Albion, and west
The druid hunted down
The wide ships wrecked.
Cornwall heard it first.
This child,
This spirit crushed the Earth
And made Morgana weep.
In the grove the great Oak split
And words like blood went running down
‘those caverns measureless to man”
And in Byzantium where lies were told,
The last man was destroyed.
Whose son was it that Leda Bore?
Whose tears when Europa was raped?
Who ran with Atalanta through the night,
Not mine, my son
Not mine, my son
Not I, my son.
Author notes
Written August 18th, 2003
In a list
What did you think
Comments
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so i only halfway understand this piece
i have read and reread it and i still
just dont get it i dont know why
i try to open my mind to what i am not
used to and what isnt my norm but i dunno
maybe im not being open enough good write though
i really enjoied this and enjoied the challenge
in trying to get what YOU mean by it
thanks for sharing
Laura -
Thought Provoking
Beautiful poem....It makes me think.
It reminds me of a rainy day sitting on a window seat and reading poetry books and old stories.....
lovely
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What a lovely piece. I liked how you mixed Arthurian legend with greek mythology. They are two of my favoritre pass times. I wrote poems about Avalon too. "Lady of Avalon" is about the Arthurian legend. "Avalon" "The Golden skinned Elf" and I have one called "The world of Avalon" are about the world I created. I created the world before I knew about the Arthurian legends. I like you to look at the poems and see what you think.
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I love the historical voice with which you wrote. I've been thinking about writing something on this line myself. Excellent write.
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I love the certain lyrical flow of this piece because it made me feel as though I was sitting in a Medieval tavern listening to a traveling bard. The storyline was well put through, and the images are magical and dark.
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"the bold little ships even broke through the Gates of Hercules to the open ocean, coasting then northward to take the gold of Ireland and the tin of Cornwall"
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i cant believe youd rather have a shire horse in your premises than me you vile, slimy git. horrible worm.
and p.s a shire horse inside a worm could do grave damage also.
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dont be annoying
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I already commented on this item in another lifetime, one of something and something, but I will say in response to your teeny muse (a) that French accents over one's name are not a good thing in Britain and [b] that I would rather have a Shire Horse in my premises than any of the above.
I am sure I pointed out last time that Cerberus was a doggy and that pussy was probably not Catullus's first preference.
Also I am sure I only dimly understood this the first time.
Edited on Dec 02, 3:33 p.m. because ''. -
down in Albion
they’re black and blue
but we don’t talk about that
are you from round here?
how do you do
I’d like to talk about that
talk over
gin in teacups and
leaves on the lawn
violence in bus stops
and pale thin girl with eyes forlorn
gin in teacups and
leaves on the lawn
violence in dole queue
and pale thin girls behind the checkout
but if you're looking for a cheap sort
glint with perspiration
there’s a four-mile queue outside the disused power station
now come away, wont you come away
we’ll go to Deptford, Digby, Tuebrook, anywhere
in Albion
yellowing classics and
canons at dawn
coffee wallows and pith helmets
and oh an English sun
but if you're looking for a cheap sort
that’s in false anticipation
it’ll be waiting in the photo booth at the railway station
ah come away, wont you come away
we’ll go to Watford, London fields, anywhere
but if you're looking for a cheap sort
that’s in false anticipation
it’ll be waiting in the photo booth at the underground station
ah come away, wont you come away
we’ll go to Watford, London fields, anywhere
My best best band is The Libertines and they have died for a while but they will come back to life soon I hope because I do trust them and love them but they just need to clean themselves up and those lyrics are what they wrote about the Albion - I think it's the medievil word for Britain or something isnt it? I'm not sure but who cares but they always talk about the spirit of the Albion and about sailing it. They are my best poets in the world Pete Doherty and Carl Barat (with a French thingy over the "a") are and I thought maybe you'd like to read those lyrics as they're about the Albion and it's in your poem to. But I cant really talk about them because they make me too sad. Lot's of alliteration in your poem so it sounds perfect even when I don't understand bits which is more important than just "getting it". Lots of names and some of the names even start "B...y...z" so they are tricky to say and sound like medicine. But I do like Cornwall a lot because they have the best ice cream in the planet and the most pervy fishermen ever and when you go into pubs there they are all suspicious and "are you local" type suspicious, which is very intolerant but if you buy them a drink and listen to their stories then they'll like you. Once me and my boyfriend were in this pub in Cornwall and everyone was looking at us like we were dirty London scum bringing them a bunch of diseases or whatnot and then a great big fucking shire horse walked into the pub and they didn't bat an eyelash... it was mad it just walked into the pub and nobody thought anything of it but two new, unlocal humans in a pub was weird to them. But I do like Cornwall very much because there is a little theatre cut into a cliff where they do Shakespeare plays infront of the ocean in the evening so even if you get sick of long monologues you can watch the stars and the waves.
I'm sorry I'm just speaking about my stories more than your poem but it is because your poem reminded me of them and I don't know nothing about the names in your poem I suppose.
I am very happy I read it because it reminded me of the horse in the pub and I think I forgot about that -
Excellent
The metaphysical ramblings, yet fluidic, create imagery of the world of the sorceress. -
This one huh. You make me work very hard. I could go ask Ody and Myra or Spider that Smiles for all the answers ..but you know I'd rather do it myself stubborn thing I am.
But it always seems to me to come back to the Original disruption of Harmony: Man / Woman Goddess Religion / Christianity Power Struggles and the Battles that always ensue .. time and time again. Oh wait Time is altogether different ..
Mordred, Cereberus, Catullus, Pompey, Balboa?(Deep as in debt?), Kubla Kahn (Coleridge), Leda, Europa, Atalanta (interesting it was apples thrown to slow her down huh?)
Okies. Maybe I need to ask a few questions of the Pote.
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This was such a magical read. All of the tales of old can flowing true. I love the tales of old. Beautiful writings here!
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I can imagine this being sung by some bard in a tavern on a stormy night of lore and old
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8.3 out of 10
i had to read one eyed but i still liked it so props for you, i also liked your word usage, it was a good write, but hey, does it save you any money on car insurance? thats what i thought! call 1-800-geico and just 15 minutes could save you up to 15% or more on car insurance. are you in good hands? fine. then get those hands off of yourself because you have more wrng to do, you dont want end up like beezlebub do you? good. then so put on your suit. its bring yourself to work day! Or we can be mammals and do it like they do on the discovery channel, do you ever watch that channel ? its really really awesome, anyways i had to add this to my comment to make sure i got my 5 pts then any extra because i liked it but i didnt have very much more to say -
im very impressed
it kind of went over my head a bit because im not really into to this type of thing
but im very impressed with it
breat work
i can tell you put some time into this
although
i get the feeling this type of write comes naturally for you
very very nice -
Very nicely written! love your writing style
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Interesting potpourri of classic mythology – I found it a little uneven and obscure… leaping from one subject to another without comment, the word repetition ‘within’ e.g. - (not just the three but two more after) seemed at odds with the prophetic feel. Some good chilling images though.
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I am amazed. I hate the fact that ido not understand it all, since i dont knw much about this stuff, but still, it amazes me to read, knowing how much you had to do to perhaps write it!, plus..plus i love how it says every thing, even if i dont understand it all, it still is an amazing piece!!
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fantastic
wonderfully written you did your home work thanks for sharing it -
wow
hold on needs must collect me thoughts
wow
okay, you were deffinetly right here, i love it so much mythology and history and deep and dark and sad and brooding and chilling and and...
sorry, i love it -
Excellent
"Men are alike ... all human, at the best".
"Nay, at the worst".
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A very enchanting tale...lots of references, (which may be lost on some of your audience, but without them the poem would cease to exist..so they work, and potentially, depending on the reader Sing to the highest and most delightful notes) this is steeped in character. Beautiful poetry..
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Glad to see this after the hunting for info.
A very good read, it's what I love about this part of GB
such history.
Jules. -
Morgan le Fay...
sorry, (breathes out) I think this is by far the best piece i have ever read. i love the old stories of Avalon, the noble beings and those who threw away their station to save the Goddess. Arthur became a trator, and Morgaine...well, i'm rambling. Beautiful...no gorgeous piece. Thank you so much...
happy writing
mandie
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Excellent
I've done 300 plus critiques and this is only my third,
WOW.
This was fantastic. I will have to dig out one of my older books (or spend some time online) to track down all the references. A most enjoyable read that I just printed it out for carrying around.
Very well done.
John -
Nope is never 'my' fault...nope, nope, nope... Val
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