I am she to whom the gods had given
All their gifts; but now the earth is riven
By disease, discomfort, and disquiet,
Lechery, delinquency, and riot.
All because I would not do this task – it
Was required that I should guard a casket.
Was that then too arduous a duty
For a girl possessed of brains and beauty?
From within the box I hear her mutter
And I feel her fairy wings a-flutter;
Kindly Elf of Hope I know thy yearning,
So to this green glade I am returning
Where the daemons of my sin were scattered –
All but thee, the only one who mattered.
Fly, brave Hope, and battle with the grey night
Of Despair, and grant the world its daylight!
Author notes
Your picture recalls to my mind the second opening of Pandora’s box.
Pandora, she to whom all is given, was the first woman, according to the Greek myths, and her name derives from the fact that the gods gave to her every desirable physical and mental characteristic. That must have included curiosity, however, because when charged with guarding a box within which all the woes of the world were sealed, she opened the lid and let them out.
Thus the other name by which she is known – Anesidora, she who offers up gifts – seems ironic. But according to one version of the legend, after Pandora shut the lid of the box again, one thing was left inside – hope – and she was brave and trusting enough to let that out into the world.
I love the 1896 painting of her by J W Waterhouse. http://www.trzj.org/art/famous/onfantasyart/09/wa_Pandora.jpg
In a list
A contest entry
- Let Your Imagination Run Free #19 (Picture Contest) by nothinghere.
450 points, ended August 21, 2007, 10 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Fairy-Tales, Spirit-Tales And Tales-Of-Wisdom ... In Verse by maa.
543 points, ended April 10, 17 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 19 of 19
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I've always liked the stories of Pandora and Prometheus as well. Similar stories of misguided actions and their effects upon the world. I like the idea of hope being left in the box. Perhaps it's time to open the box again. Or would we just take the money? Well deserved gold.
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Thank you, Keith.
(Good grief - open the box / take the money - that dates you!
)
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a wonderful rendering of this tale. Congrats on the double gold!
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Thank you
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excellent !
not only a delightful tale, but also masterful in its elegance and sophistication ... a tale of wisdom indeed ...
I love the part with the hope she finally discovered and sent out as a gift into the world ... I feel very touched and concerned by this metaphor here ...
thank you for inspiring my spirit with this fantastic verse ...
maa
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Congrads Maranwë Oronar, I told you this would win gold!
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Amera, I ought to listen to you more often.
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Brilliant, wow exactly the sort of write I was hoping for in this contest BRAVO... it is not my normal way to applaud contest poems, but today is some exeption
Thank you for taking the time to enter this contest, I wish you the best of luck
Karen
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Karen, belatedly many thanks. I haven't been on the site for more than a few minutes since mid August, and I missed your kind accolade. Much apprecaited.
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This was a fabulous penning! Excellent, excellent. You took your prompt and delivered a wonderful piece! Imagery fills the mind with a journey we have been invited on. I loved this, very well done!
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I had fun with it. It's kinda playful in its own way
Thank you.
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Hope is a beautiful thing, and I like beautiful things. This is a nice effort and should do well in the contest. I like the image and the symbolism. I give it...
three bunnies!
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wonderful mairi! Love it!
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Thank you
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This is absolutely beautiful in structure, flow and image. Being as I am the Princess of Elves I am an expert in this type of history and I must say you have put this true story in verse amazingly well. In fact this so well done that I shall give you an elfin name for I have the power to make it so. For now and forever more you shall be called Maranwë Oronar in the Elf Forest. This is a name of honor and you shall be in charge of all the crimson sky horses in the royal stable. Your poem is world class and will easily take the gold effigy.
Love,
Amera ♥
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Och I am weel kent in the ancient Oakwoods of Glenalmond, which (some say) are as auld as Lothlorien. Thank you for the praise, the new name, and the responsibility. (Dae I get some help mucking-oot the stable?)
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Ah but Lassie, ye are “In charge” of the sky horses! Your staff will attended slovenly chores lest you spoil your silk n lace.
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I get STAFF! Whoopee!
Whoa, I get silk and lace too... my cup runneth over!
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"From within the box I hear her mutter
And I feel her fairy wings a-flutter;
Kindly Elf of Hope I know thy yearning,
So to this green glade I am returning"----my favorite of the lines! A very nice story you've told here! ANd I learned something new about the story of Pandora! Many thanks for the read! Best of luck in the contest!
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