Promethean I Am

Promethean I Am

He chose the bones smeared in fat;

No feast for such a mighty God

And in response to such a trick,

He cast them into starving dark.

 

To end such blatant tyranny

I stole the fire of life from Zeus

And sent it down to save on Earth

The race that I foretold in clay.

 

In punishment for such a deed

Zeus lashed me to a solid rock

To suffer much eternal pain;

My liver pecked by eagle’s beak.

 

My Godly organ so consumed

Regenerated and grew by night

Ensuring that each tortured day

Would last until the end of time.

 

And still Zeus not insatiate

Unleashed Pandora on the world

To visit such great plague on men

And to withhold their feeble hope.

 

Too late to save the wretched race,

Heracles killed the feathered fiend

And set my tortured spirit free

To mourne such patient womanry.

 

30^th March 2010

 

Reviews

[Rachelle]

Benevolent to the point of self-sacrifice, victim of his own trusting naiveté or is it? He knew what he was doing and the tragic consequences of his actions but he did it anyway. This is conviction.

[Travis Gibson (poetic h..]

Your command of language and knowledge of Greek mythology made this a great write. I'm happy I came across this piece.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks PH. It was stimulated by my being categorised in psychological testing as Promethean.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

It was wonderful stimulation.

[Lyn Anderson]

This is really magical. A great ride through legend and myth - one little thing, the ON in third line, second stanza seems unnecessary to me, but maybe that's just me.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks KLG. The 'on' keeps the beat steady.

[Lyn Anderson]

Fair enough. You have your own rhythm

[John Alexander McFadyen]

All the stanzas have the same metre. Each third line has eight beats.

[Lyn Anderson]

Okay fairer to say it's me who is off beat.:)

[SHEEMA HUQ]

I have not completely comprehended this masterpiece, well done John.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

It is a literal poetic translation of greek myth

[KAOlmsted]

I like this, John...makes me wonder where my head was in July that I didn't see it then...thanks for the RR.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Your head sweet lady I hope was in love!

[KAOlmsted]

Ha! Probably more like vodka ;-)

[Leslie Philibert]

As I wrote, John is moving into new areas, this a fine adaption of a classical theme.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks Leslie I go where the whim takes me.

[Ayvid N]

You had some dare to take on Zeus! Ver interesting read, especially Pandora, the feathered fiend...and patient womanry! Am i relating them correctly? A comment there? :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I was having a pop at the women in my life who I feel have let me down lol-Thank yous!!!!

[quinfinn]

Greek mythology is very entertaining to me, i love all of it. you certainly have either a very good knowledge of the classics or you have done your homework. either way, this makes for a very entertaining read. well written and cleverly worded, this is nicely done. brilliant execution!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks Quin. Homework I admit as I am described as Promethean in my Myers Briggs.

[Kajal Gulabani]

Good work.. :) Great imagery.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks Kajal

[Kajal Gulabani]

Any time.. :)

[Frieda P]

I know Zeus personally, he sent me my own Pandora's box tied with a neat little bow. Beautifully written poignant piece of artwork.

'My liver pecked by eagle’s beak.' 'My Godly organ so consumed'

Your startling images really knock this out of the park.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

See more to me than explicit stuff lol!

[Frieda P]

I knew that already....