Author:Manfred Brueckels Permission:PD-self
Friedrich Tieck, a 19th-century sculptor (here)
.
11 of 12 given words:
frail, wild, endless, helpless, drift
empty, choked, seeks, ride, lonely, candle
frail physically and lost in time
wild in imagination waiting inline
endless worries for a mother's well-being
helpless alone and wondering
who is there to accord assistance
six months in the underworld's far distance
and six above still lacking mother's feelings
where's the drift but empty of blessings
a lonely mother choked with emotions
seeks solace in desperation
why must Zeus impact an imbalance
life is more than taking a ride in motion
not spied yet the intended light
at the end of the tunnel overly bright
but a candle dying to live
desperate wanting to give
its flickering flames
taking the blame
for spoils of mankind
Background Perspective:
Persephone was the beautiful daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, fruit, and grains. She brought the spring with her and scattered flowers around her. Her uncle, Hades, the dark god of the underworld and the dead fell in love with her. One day, as she was enjoying the flowers and the sunshine he burst out of a cave and carried her off.
Persephone’s mother, Ceres, was distraught. She set off to search for her daughter. She neglected her duties as an agricultural goddess – crops failed and the people starved.
MMT at The Whirligig Wordle #329
Sarah at d'Verse - Poets Pub
Poetics: Persephone.
This is very haunting and visceral, Hank. My word, you communicate evocatively the grief, loss, and unfairness of the situation subjected upon Persephone. I especially felt the heartbreak here:
ReplyDelete"endless worries for a mother's well-being
helpless alone and wondering"
Ceres was absolutely devastated in the myth when her daughter was abducted, and you really can feel the helplessness and disbelief of the situation here at the final deal, thanks to Hades' manipulation of Persephone consuming food in the Underworld. While Persephone spends six months with her mother, it almost feels empty as each second, minute, hour, week, month is accounted for until she returns to the Underworld back to Hades. She knows it will pass before her eyes so she should try and cherish the moments with her mother, but as you paint the scene so eloquently, it is the dread of what is to come in the latter half of winter. Beautifully and brilliantly penned, Hank. I always enjoy reading you! :D
Beautifully written Hank:
ReplyDelete'taking the blame
for spoils of mankind'
- it seems that is Persphone's fate, and could be the fate of the earth itself.
"who is there to accord assistance
ReplyDeletesix months in the underworld's far distance
and six above still lacking mother's feelings
where's the drift but empty of blessings"
Wowzers bowzers, Hank. I loved these lines in particular - they just flow like sweet syrup.
-David
Now that I know the backstory, what you wrote is perfect.
ReplyDeleteSurely a tale of woe. I can't seem to find my happy ending anywhere...but well written!
ReplyDeleteI love the repeating refrain.
ReplyDeleteWonderful as always Hank, am still having problems with Blogger, I can't write a new post myself but can read my followers..... most strange.
ReplyDeleteHope you are well and keep safe.
Yvonne.
Well written!
ReplyDelete"where's the drift but empty of blessings" this line, and the image of the candle dying to live...very powerful.
This is gorgeously, gorgeously executed, Hank!💝💝
ReplyDelete