Ditch the ads, upload images and much more - upgrade today from 5.95/month!
Read • Contests • Groups • Learn • Forums • Store • Help
 

The Chant of Lamia

Missing image

The Chant of Lamia

 

O cryptic voices in the night

Demonic choices render thee

Thy children’s souls are my delight

As scribed on scrolls, O blessed be

 

My soul rejoices for thy seed

O cryptic voices in the night

I drink their waters as they bleed

Thy sons and daughters in my sight

 

Thy sons shall not evade the plight

Thou hast betrayed thy paradise

O cryptic voices in the night

You mate the choices that entice

 

Devoured whole thou hast betrayed

Thy children’s soul, ‘tis only right

Unholy choices thou hast made

O cryptic voices in the night

 

 

iiv

Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape

Author notes

 Lamia - source;Wikipedia

In Greek mythology, Lamia was a Queen of Libya who became a child-murdering daemon. In later writings she is pluralized into many lamiae (Greek lamiai). Similar in type to other female monsters from Greco-Roman myth, such as the empuses and the mormolyces, she is distinguished from them by her description as half-woman and half-serpent. Her name comes from the "gullet" (Greek: Laimos), since she devoured human children.

Lamia was the daughter of Poseidon and Lybie, a personification of the country of Libya and a queen of Libya herself, whom Zeus loved. Hera discovered the affair and stole away Lamia's children, whereupon Lamia in her grief became a monster and began murdering children. Zeus granted her the power of prophecy as an attempt at appeasement, as well as the related ability to temporarily remove her eyes. Either Hera turned her into a monster, she was transformed by grief over the murder of all her children (except Scylla), or she was already one of Hecate's brood. Plutarch heard that Lamia had the gift to be able to take her eyes out and then put them back in. A later elaboration on this archaic mytheme is that this gift was given by Zeus,[citation needed] and further, that Lamia was cursed with the inability to close her eyes so that she would always obsess over the image of her dead children.

Art Work: "Lamia" by John William Waterhouse, 1909 - Oil on Canvas

In a list

Comments:

    : , Your review:

    Comment Suggestion: What is your your first impression?
    • Line numbers  • Invite them to read
    : no Cost: 0 free left 0 points, You have (?)

Comments

1 - 38 of 38

  • Michael Pastore
    June 14

    Edit | Reply

    Really excellent!

    Your control over form and rhyme is really wonderful, I love the rhymes within the lines (sure there is a term for that) and the authors notes - as others point out add a dimension...Thanks!


    • Amera gold member
      June 14
      Edit | Reply
      Thank you and yes; it's called internal rhyme.


  • darkyinsoul
    April 2

    Edit | Reply
    Brilliant write. Thanks for the authors notes to I just learned something along with reading a beautiful dark write amazing. Good peice,


  • Swangrnv gold member
    March 22

    Edit | Reply

    well...

    not sure if you knew this already but i love GREEK MYTHOLOGY, but damn ..i gotta bone up on it! l.o.l. clearly you are way more informed about it than i! l.o.l. i can't recall this character but it matters not in reference to this piece of ART..you've penned another stunning and brilliant piece my sweet dancin queen!

    • Amera gold member
      March 22
      Edit | Reply
      Aww... Thank you and I didn't know that. This is the second poem I have written about Lamia. You might enjoy my demon series. An assoetment of female deamons.


  • Auburn Sunrise gold member
    March 21
    Edit | Reply
    Wonderful poem

    I think Waterhouse, like you, adored the great myths and literature of centuries bygone. He would have been proud of this write, I think.

    Perhaps this was the Lamia he meant to paint - the demon who lost her children and couldn't let go of their image - she does look so sad in this painting.

    You are far too brilliant and far too self-deprecating at the same time.

    Do us both a favor and don't remove your poems from my contests again, lol.

    You know, I envy your talent. Everyone does.


  • Cannonsfire
    March 19

    Edit | Reply
    Wonderful dark piece of form here, gave me goosebumps Well done C


  • Tirrell
    March 19

    Edit | Reply
    beautiful mythological poem, filled with detailed and the rising sense of woe. A nice darkly written poem from you. Well done my friend! (IMO)


  • Pure Thought silver member
    March 18

    Edit | Reply
    I knew these paintings would pull pure beauty out from you. Pulled from the contest? Are you
    ca-razyyy? I would love to write as badly as this on my best days. This is no where near bad.

    Buddy


  • Rend the Veil gold member
    March 18

    Edit | Reply

    your piece is a work of ART!

     So masterfully penned with each word, I love the added notes in the ANs

    I learned something new today, Amera I love it!, your language  usage is

    wonderful!

    Blessings to you my friend

    Rend

  • Cinnarry gold member
    March 18
    Edit | Reply
    As only you can do, beautiful.


  • Mairi bheag gold member
    March 18

    Edit | Reply
    I am going to ignore the notes, because I like poems to stand on their own two feet.

    I think there is only one small thing in this poem that I would question, and that is the single contraction, You've, in line 12. Can it be said differently, appositely, and euphoniously within the require metre? Not beyond your art, Sis, I know.

    I love JWW.

    I think this poem is pretty impressive. Okay so it uses archaic language throughout, but you handle it very well indeed. Nice work. Nice craft. Keep it up, Sis.




    • Amera gold member
      March 18

      Edit | Reply
      Good idea, I fixed it. It didn't have a snowballs chance in hell in a contest anyway. I’ve yet to find anyone on AP that appreciated internal rhyme except micol but he’s a literature professor.

      • Auburn Sunrise gold member
        March 21
        Edit | Reply
        Actually I love internal rhyme.

        I tend to prefer free verse because most people can't handle form or rhyme - but you are the one exception to that and I love your use of internal rhyme.

      • Tirrell
        March 19
        Edit | Reply
        Internal rhyme can be beautiful, Poe is known to say it is the hardest rhyme to pull off, and yet beautiful when it is.

      • Mairi bheag gold member
        March 18
        Edit | Reply
        But is that any reason to take it out of the contest?

        The internal rhyme is fine - not easy to pull that off (I know I keep saying that).

        [OK, I know everyone is saying that the contest is as good as won, but that's now. Things change, judges take second, third, and fourth looks at entries and spot things they didn't see before. At least they do if they have any appreciation for poetry. Why rule yourself out?]

        • Auburn Sunrise gold member
          March 21

          Edit | Reply
          thank you very much! I agree completely and I AM THE JUDGE! LOL.

          I read each entry several tims before I judge. A contest is never as good as won until it's time to actually judge!


          • Mairi bheag gold member
            March 21
            Edit | Reply
            I'm glad to hear it, and I'm sure you'll be a very conscientious judge.

  • Eusebius
    March 18

    Edit | Reply
    Excellent, perfect, wonderful! A splendid and magical poem here, superb by any standard.... I absolutely loved it!!


  • Ken-Maverick
    March 18

    Edit | Reply
    Ooooh, this is most certainly a dark one,
    wonderfully penned with rhythm and flow as always
    All the best to ya in the contest

    Ken


  • Cup-a-Joe
    March 17
    Edit | Reply

    Amera,

    Wow, i love how you take an image, and creat great works of poetry.
    Well bone!
    Joe

  • Purrsanthema
    March 17
    Edit | Reply
    A beautiful frightening poem. Thank you for the notes.
    Best of luck in the contest!


  • princessleejwctlvr2
    March 17
    Edit | Reply
    Another incredible and fantastic write my dear sweet sis!!!! This is truly amazing I love it!!!!!


  • Moonlightdragon gold member
    March 17
    Edit | Reply
    Mythology fits this superbly written form.
    Bravo poet!


  • Rovingone gold member
    March 17

    Edit | Reply
    Oh, so perfect! The Tale Lamia, as well told as ever could be and in such a fantastic poetic saga. You made the whole thing come to life, from right out of the pages of history.


  • MJ Donnelly gold member
    March 17

    Edit | Reply
    Whoa! Yes, exquisitely penned, and classically dark.

    A fine job Amera, all the best dear,
    Love ya!
    mj.


  • log-home-guy-Nic
    March 17
    Edit | Reply

    awsome

    perfect I love it well done nice read, wonderful rhyme


  • XLadyElinorX
    March 17
    Edit | Reply
    Oh, and I forgot to say - gorgeous painting!

  • XLadyElinorX
    March 17

    Edit | Reply
    wow, I never heard of Lamia before. . . what a fascinatingly horrible story. . . and well written too - the form was perfect for the subject. . .
    good luck to you, Amera. . .


  • maralisa silver member
    March 17

    Edit | Reply
    a wonderful write the flow and depth is wonderful throughout good luck in the contestmaralisa


  • The.poet.of.hearts
    March 17

    Edit | Reply
    I have never read classical poetry at AP
    it was superb
    loved it though

    by
    the poet of hearts and beautiful words


  • StarEyes
    March 17

    Edit | Reply
    Sis,

    This is amazing! What a read this one is! I love how smoothly it flows! This is great! Miss Form Queen at her best!!

    Best of luck in this contest!

    and love

    Nyetta


  • Ariosto II. gold member
    March 17

    Edit | Reply
    This is gorgeous, it roles and it rhymes as naturally as water flows. A great tale, wonderfully told.


  • cricketjeff gold member
    March 17

    Edit | Reply
    Beautifully written quatern, dark and foreboding. Telling the tale to perfection

    Great stuff

    Jeff


  • Faeryn
    March 17

    Edit | Reply
    Wow! Amazing Quatern! It has such a smooth flow to it. The painting is really pretty too and the author notes are most helpful.
    Love,
    Tay


  • penman gold member
    March 17

    Edit | Reply

    Excellent

    Oh my you can anything and give it depth and beauty. This was amazing. Thank you for the author's notes. Best of luck in the contest.

1 - 38 of 38