Your swirling hair
Beguiles
Your beauty
Transfixes
Your presence
Mesmerizes
Perceived
In the mirror
Your reflection
Sustains
Issue from
Your blood
Takes flight
To the stars
Your head adorns
A warriors shield.
Who am I.
Born Stepney, London, England. Emigrated to Canada. Married, two children, six grandchildren. Retired. Conservative and cultural catholic. LOVE soccer. Tottenham Hotspur. Read historical and fantasy fiction..
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25 thoughts on “Petrified”
I don’t know if it being Bobby Orr makes a difference. I only mention it because of “Who am I.” It is a poem about beauty and, I think, power transfixed (“transfixes”). And yet the “issue” goes out into the cosmos. Can a statue do that, or is it the legacy of the sport?
This is certainly cryptic work, Len! It reads smoothly (as well as cryptically) in terms of meter and how it sounds.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but in hindsight, the image I posted is kind of misleading to the accompanying words. I loved watching Bobby Orr, so few hockey players could enact his grace on the ice. The cryptic poem actually relates to Medusa, one of the three Gorgons. She had snakes replacing hair and whoever looked at her was turned to stone. She was slain by Perseus who looked at her reflection on his shield. From her blood was born Pegasus, the winged horse, and her head was incorporated into Athena’s (Greek God of War) shield. My first attempt at cryptic anything, Christopher. I usually like to be blunt and precise in my words.
Thank you, Jane. You are on track with Greek mythology. I was describing Medusa. Your mention of Pandora has sent my mind racing. Pandora, the first woman, releasing evil into the world and Eve, the first woman, tempting Adam with the apple from the knowledge tree, disobeying God and cast out from the Garden. Women can’t seem to get a break. Something to store for future use. Thanks for the inspiration.
That’s kind of a scary statue. I didn’t know it was Orr until I read the comments. I thought it was just some lunatic. Lol. But your poem is wonderful for the prompt or all on its own. It has a wonderful, epic feel.
I don’t know if it being Bobby Orr makes a difference. I only mention it because of “Who am I.” It is a poem about beauty and, I think, power transfixed (“transfixes”). And yet the “issue” goes out into the cosmos. Can a statue do that, or is it the legacy of the sport?
This is certainly cryptic work, Len! It reads smoothly (as well as cryptically) in terms of meter and how it sounds.
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They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but in hindsight, the image I posted is kind of misleading to the accompanying words. I loved watching Bobby Orr, so few hockey players could enact his grace on the ice. The cryptic poem actually relates to Medusa, one of the three Gorgons. She had snakes replacing hair and whoever looked at her was turned to stone. She was slain by Perseus who looked at her reflection on his shield. From her blood was born Pegasus, the winged horse, and her head was incorporated into Athena’s (Greek God of War) shield. My first attempt at cryptic anything, Christopher. I usually like to be blunt and precise in my words.
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You did a good job with this, Len. Now that I know who it is, I understand the title.
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Sounds like you are describing Medusa. All this “swirling hair”, “transfixing” , “reflection” … yeah. Medusa.
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I am happy to award you your honorary doctorate in Greek mythology. Congratulations.
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WOW, I can’t guess who it is, but your poem ROCKS, Len!!!
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Thank you, Rhen. I think this is my third attempt at poetry.
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Well, you’ve got the “touch”, my friend–bring us more, please!!!
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Love this.
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Thanks, Kate. Not my usual fare, but I like a challenge.
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I don’t know the answer, but I love this poem and the way you brought readers into identifying who it’s describing.
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Thanks for your kind words, Abi. It’s Medusa from Greek mythology.
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I thought it might be, but wasn’t sure. 😊
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The progression is beautiful!
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Thanks, Reena. I just followed the story line.
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Reblogged this on Reena Saxena.
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And you said MY mind works in mysterious ways! Interesting, Len.
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Thanks, Annie. It’s not my normal fare but it’s good to change things up now and again.
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So I am getting an image of both Pandora and Artemis combined in this riddle-poem. Nicely done, as mythological musings should be full of mystery.
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Thank you, Jane. You are on track with Greek mythology. I was describing Medusa. Your mention of Pandora has sent my mind racing. Pandora, the first woman, releasing evil into the world and Eve, the first woman, tempting Adam with the apple from the knowledge tree, disobeying God and cast out from the Garden. Women can’t seem to get a break. Something to store for future use. Thanks for the inspiration.
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I connect Eve with Pandora too — their stories are so similar.
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That’s kind of a scary statue. I didn’t know it was Orr until I read the comments. I thought it was just some lunatic. Lol. But your poem is wonderful for the prompt or all on its own. It has a wonderful, epic feel.
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Thank you, Diana, I take any compliment for my poetry willingly, like a drowning man grasping at straws. It is not my forte.
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You’d never know. Keep it up. 🙂
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