ODE TO MY THETIS

See notes below 04 05 14 - 04 11 14

ODE TO MY THETIS

 

I. Now That Mythology Are Metaphors

 

If children truly come

from where adults go

I bestow upon my clinically

banal chronology / retroactively

my acquiescence in the now

 

On the verge of graduation's

seven-pound paperweight augmentation

motherhood's soft-skulled juju

hung upon your future like

an anatomic pendulum

 

II. A Sinkful Of Styx

 

I hope I crowed more than cried

when I implemented the percussion

of my scissored legs

on the porcelain pond cistern

cradle of the first element

manually passed to me

 

My feet were groomed for golden paths

until their holy water was applied

to the wrong end

 

My education was already sewn

into yours like an applique of metanoia

 

With colicky jaws I absorbed

your higher learning's sacrifice

 

Maybe mortal minds are computed

to be born for battle after all

 

With embrace-entreating arms

I arrived in a roughshod beeline

on your lap's academic paper remparts

 

All I now recall are the smiling

armistices of coiled arms impervious

to hallowed grades and graduation

 

III. The Island

 

Nova Scotia's Masterpiece

our tourism department declared

 

Before I walked tall enough for shadow play

the shorelines of Cape Breton

bore no shortage of Poseidons

steel-toed and rubber-booted

stirring waves housing once-abundant fish

 

The Cape Islander fraternity

envisioned futures of ascension

for their offspring / masterpieces

in the gallery of tolerated

middle-class settlement

 

Cue the courting of the most

destiny-embattled ocean guardian of all

an off-season carpenter

and oft-seasoned mechanic

destiny demurely hibernating

in his shadow and mummified

divinely in yours when the ocean

opened up its rippled gates for

his swan-song's ashen tenor

 

IV. Now That Mythology Are Metaphors

 

The destiny of a success-augmenting son

never did evade the sixty-thousand

dollar paper

 

I never learned to fish on recalcitrant currents

never learned to build on measurements

never learned to revive palliative revvings

 

But I learned from you to live

when friends and all the others died

 

With every loss you taught me

how to walk again on brittle heels

 

For every solemn mantra marked

for trading in a walk on my feet

for a death on my knees

your embrace was like an island

hereafter residence

 

The shadow nursed exultantly

in selfless stages of maternity

you'd spread amongst the dunes in

a soulful amalgam of Elysian exceptions

lobbied for in your immortal

accented platform

 

Every telephone diatribe of despondency

is a practice in forgiveness for you

and a reason for tomorrow's hope for myself

 

So much for the prophecy of child prodigies

 

Your methods scrawled in perfect rings

fortifying an entangled family tree

 

My madness like depressed termites

forever barricaded by my love for thee

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

Achilles

When Achilles was an infant, his sea-goddess mother, wishing him to share her immortality, dipped him into the river Styx. However, in doing so, she held him by the heel, and the part of his heel covered by her thumb became his one vulnerable spot.

Thetis

A most tender mother to Achilles, the greatest of all Greek warriors, during his violent career. She was pursued incessantly by Poseidon who offered her marriage. She comforted him during his depressed mood over the death of his friend Patroclus during the Trojan War. She was told by an oracle that any son borne of her would be greater than his father. The birth of Achilles would fulfill that prophecy. After his death, she demanded his soul of Hades. Raising an island from the sea, she placed him on the island, providing him with Patroclus for company. She also reclaimed his father's shade and placed it on the island, which she visited daily.

Reviews

[Rita L. Sev]

Your methods scrawled in perfect rings
fortifying an entangled family tree

Through our mother's eyes,we first learn to see the world... humbled, crumbled, or exalted. Your blending of myth with truth is amazing, providing the reader with background images for our own emotions. Wonderful write, Steve.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much Rita, this one was a delicate endeavor, as it always is when mixing myth and memoir, but my mother's reaction made it all worthwhile...she actually doesn't read a lot of my writing, but she liked this one very much.

[John Anderson]

Beautifully expressed and very nicely penned. Great job.

[kublakhan27]

Thank you John for the kind words, they are much appreciated.

[Lyn Anderson]

I love the last of it the best. Now, you must be younger than me or have very special immunity to presbyopia, cause man, that first font killed me. Was it intentional to change the font and would you kindly consider publishing a presbyopic version?

[kublakhan27]

No, the fonts got mixed up in the process of transferring it over to this site...I'll fix it at some point, but after investing a week's worth of mental and emotional energy into this piece, I need a break from it. Thanks as always for reading.

[MsJewel]

You have quite a unique gift. I enjoyed the blend of myth and real life. One word for this poem - mesmerizing!

:) Julie

[kublakhan27]

So glad you enjoyed this one my friend, I hold every poem close to the heart but of course this is a very special case :)

[EMMIE]

The way you put words and lines together here...wow that's just talent. A classic poetry with a modern twist. Love it!

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much for the kind words Emmie, I'm glad you enjoyed this one :)

[ms. barrie]

Mr. Steve, this is absolutely spectacular...Your incredibly unique imagery...
Depicting mythology, the way you weaved your own personal reality into
Myth takes the reader's imagination away while it dances
back into ancient times while
Allowing us to take a glimpses of your life.

Simply wonderful, definitely one of my favorites...Thank you for sharing, Mr. Steve!!
Be well, my friend _x_ :))

[kublakhan27]

You know your support means the world to me Miss Barrie, and it means the world to know you hold this piece in such high regard. There is always a personal element to what I write...things just come out that way whenever I pick up a pen...but this is certainly an extreme case. All the best to you, my dear friend :) ((hugs))

[ms. barrie]

You're very welcome, Mr. Steve...And likewise, my friend! This was a pleasure
To read...shine on! :)))) _xxx_

[Shirlena]

Strong from beginning to end, especially respect the beginning. I'm not going to repeat it cause I would be writing this entire poem again if I'm going to talk about what sent goosebumps trailing down my spine. This was a phenomenal write and I will definitely be returning to absorb it's brilliance cause it was well worth the entire length of this epic read Kub. You betta kill it man LOL. You tryna get me excited ain't cha? I know you are :). Ah too LATE I'm HERE!!!

[kublakhan27]

Haha As long as I can make you feel something with my writing, I am content my friend :) It means so much to know that you enjoyed this piece so much...there really are no words to express my gratitude...I can only say that I am humbled and honoured by your support :)

[Shirlena]

Oh I'm a true fan of your work Kub and you can believe that or I wouldn't be on top of it everytime you post. You have great vision and your arrangements are all of your own and unique. I like nothing better than an artist who has their own voice. You are an envelope pusher :).

[kublakhan27]

Thank you again my friend...those are the ultimate compliments for a writer...I'll always remind myself of your reviews when I'm short on confidence :)

[Einstein Noodle]

"My education was already sewn
into yours like an applique of metanoia" love that! thanks for my word for the day "metanoia" wonderful!
and this
"Your methods scrawled in perfect rings
fortifying an entangled family tree" ... perfect metaphor .. just perfect!
your whole life in a matter of minutes ... all in gratitude to your ma! steeped in mythos and reality ..everyday living .. have not read a tribute to mothers that are better than this .. so well said .. it inspires my own gratitude for ma .. tho she passed over almost 9 yrs ago .. your poem especially connects me to my own sorrow when (young and stupid) my actions threw darts into her heart .. so undeserved ... thank goodness we grow up and understand (most of us anyway) again ..thank you for sharing this ... its a keeper
E.

[kublakhan27]

I can relate to much of your story Einstein...I lost my Dad two years ago, and with Father's Day not far off now, I'll be feeling it for sure...I feel it every day but of course there are just certain days that hit hard. I've made my fair share of mistakes as well, and I'm just relieved that I was able to patch things up with Dad before it was too late. But I don't want to inundate you with too much of my life story...it means the world to me to know that this piece has resonated so deeply with those who have read it. I spent about a week putting this together, and every minute was worth it :)

[Einstein Noodle]

well worth it! and yes..taking the opportunity to make amends is a whole lot!! remembering the things i did for my parents is very gratifying .. things could have been so much different for us .. you can talk to me anytime :)
E.