O - Ode on a Wedgewood Box
ODE ON A WEDGEWOOD BOX
(apologies to Keats)
1
Why doth the reclining cherub turn his face
Why doth the reclining cherub turn his face
away from the
accusing women?
One points towards
him.
The other gestures,
making circles near
her ear.
Wait!
Is that a snake he
holds by the neck?
Twisted ‘round his
body
hanging down the rock
he lays upon?
2
The pterippus, Pegasus, hath brought forth water,
The pterippus, Pegasus, hath brought forth water,
his hooves have struck
the earth.
Three comely maidens
fill their jugs
grateful to this
equine son of Poseidon.
Beware!
Don’t get so close,
his mother was a
Gorgon!
Tho he wears the
golden bridle of Athena,
death to she who dares to ride!
3
But, what is this?
Be these the
self-same maidens as before,
Now dancing, hands
entwined?
Nay… this be two
sisters and a man.
A bare-legged brother
or a cousin dear?
Perhaps these maidens
share between them
the male dancing
form!
Traitors, all!
For look to the skies
and see
a mighty warrior named
Justice,
his brace of steeds
rearing at the touch of his whip.
Woe to the fallen
angel, who turns his head in shame.
Woe to the mighty
Pegasus…
Woe to the unholy threesome.
For Justice comes to
all, and He is never late!
©2019 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved
This was a fun poem, maybe because one of my aunts is a big Wedgewood collector.
ReplyDeleteI had fun writing it. Looking at the different tableaux(yes, I had to look up the plural of tableau!)zoomed in was interesting. The Pegasus stanzas are the only part of the poem based on mythology. I made up the others!
DeleteI love that you showed each image that inspired the lines. A very unique poem.
ReplyDeleteFound you through AtoZ.
Doesn't Speak Klingon
Thank you.
Delete