Fear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photographer: Wagner T. Cassimiro "Aranha". Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.  This image has been modified from the original.  The original image can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/wagnertc/3218897788/

 

Fear

 

       “Man’s greatest danger…”

 

 

Hear the quiet

Feel the trembling!

Life is choked by heart near bursting

 

Twins of ancient

Orbit Father

Phobos, Deimos, ‘round Mars dancing¹

 

Agamemnon’s

Fearful Lion

'Blazoned on shield, growling mighty²

 

Bring, You, fear to

All Troy’s people

Prey to sons of Aphrodite

 

Panic, You, the

Master passion!

Love and Hope are slain by Phobos

 

And You, Fear, go

Undefeated!

All one’s friends are turned by Deimos

 

Twins, You are insidious

Your power is unstoppable

You reign with palsied hand

Above ignoble man

Make mockery of all of us

 

 

©2010, Richard Puetter

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

Notes:

 

¹Phobos and Deimos are the moons of the planet Mars.  They were also Greek gods and the sons of Ares, the god of war (Mars was the equivalent Roman god), and Aphrodite.  They are panic (Phobos) and Fear (Deimos).

 

²In 2^nd century AD geographer Pausanias’ lengthy book “Description of Greece” it was recorded that Agamemnon’s shield was decorated with the image of a lion’s head that depicted the god Phobos, "The Shield Shatterer".

 

Author's Note

A note about "Phobos" and "Deimos": These names are not universally translated the same way. Translations that I've seen use a number of terms, such as "fear", "panic", "terror", etc. to descibe Phobos and Deimos and any of these terms seem to be applied to either god. So my selection of associating panic with Phobos and fear with Deimos is just one of many different possibilities and it seems that flipping them around is nearly as common. However there are slightly more references (to my eyes) that associate Phobos with panic. Both brothers rode with Ares into war. They drove his chariot, in fact. Phobos was called the "Shield Breaker" and the one that caused utter panic in battle. Being sons of Aphrodite, both were associated with a fear of loss.

Rick

Reviews

[Mark]

What a surprise to learn that I had been incorrect for thirty years! I had always presumed that Phobos, because of its similarity to words like "phobia", was the moon which translated to Fear!
But as ever, you have taken scientific truth and historical fact and artfully blended them into an interesting and creative verse. Always a pleasure to read your stuff, my friend. Keep up the good work!

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Ah, a note of seed fear sheer intelligence and virtuosoes, I loved your play on relaxed hunger and playful rhythm, well done, great read.

[Ladysue]

wow, this was amazingly done. Deep and passionate. This one speaks to me especially at the moment...glad I read this today...

[Sara Mercury]

Cool. I know a bit about loss myself, actually. Loved the poem. You have a very unique style.

[Mary]

absolutly beautiful and very true as well i love it

[Alicante lullaby]

panic and fear.yes,they rule me.they rule usall.rattling our existence.

[Susie Q]

WOW! I was never much into Greek mythology but this makes me want to read more. Thanks, Rick!

[Ruth]

Now this hits the spot! Wow! Intense imagery, powerful:)

There is always something so moving about mythology in poetry, especially when the poet has an intriguing, poignant perception going on in there too lol LOVE it! xx

[Legion]

Cry Havoc.....

Wonderfully penned. You definetely do your homework. Top notch.

[Greg Close]

I could say "well done" but in keeping with the epic nature of the poem, methinks "well wrought" fits better! Love the closing stanza, especially.