The Colours of Mythology 3

Springing tempests upon unsuspecting sailors

Entertains Poseidon like nothing else does.

Power in his trident, resentment in his demeanor,

Insidious attacks he plans night and day

Against the hateful mortals who dread his vacillating temper.

*-*-*

Turn your eyes not to the heavens.

Hera will take note of your insolence,

Irately cursing you and your household.

Seek not glory and honor in battle, nor victory in arms.

Tumultuous Ares and Apollo will toy with you,

Loving to scoff at the weakness of humans.

Entreat Demeter to grant you peace and prosperity instead.

*-*-*

Under the sky sprinkled lavishly with stars

Lies the ocean, gentle and calm as Poseidon relishes rare

Tranquility, stretching out his trident to flatten the sea,

Removing all ripples to perfectly reflect the night sky.

Among the sea creatures, not one dares to stir,

Marveling too at the magic of the sea’s serenity.

Amorous lovers gaze at the stars in each other’s eyes

Relieved that the calm sea allows them to elope.

In the hull of the ship are luxurious furs and woven blankets

Nested among chests of exquisite jewelry and garments.

Expecting entertainment from their forbidden love, Poseidon waits.

*-*-*

Vanquished and humiliated, Aphrodite

Enraged and wounded flees to Mount Olympus,

Requesting aid for her injured wrist and pride.

Making love, not war, is the goddess’s vocation;

Intimacy and delicacy follow her footsteps,

Longing to cast some unsuspecting mortal

Into the depths of yearning desire.

Often she drives men mad with her games,

Not perceiving her role in causing feuds and wars.

*-*-*

Whet your appetite, Demeter has smiled upon us and

Has granted us frequent rains and good harvest.

Eat to your fill and enjoy her bounty,

Ask her to graciously bless us again next year,

Though she is fickle and prone to withhold.

*-*-*

Xylogenous insects pester the goddess of the garden,

Attempting to ruin her pear orchards.

Nostalgic of the time before pests and pestilence,

The goddess sadly admonishes Pandora.

Hard labor is gardening now, sweat and toil

In the early hours of the morning when the

Cock crows to announce the sunrise.

*-*-*

Yellow rays beam from Helios’ coronet,

Undoing the spells of fear cast by darkness.

Clear vision allows the god to survey the earth

Crisscrossed with rivers and mountain ranges

And splotched with forests and oceans.

*-*-*

Zero answers to the oracle’s strange words

Uttering destruction and ruin but final fate left unknown.

Caution matters not when the Fates are involved,

Cleverly weaving inescapable tales of woe,

Hungry for the sensational stories and legends they produce.

Inside the belly of the temple hidden in a cave,

Noxious fumes trigger hallucinations.

If you dare, seek your destiny – or your doom.

*-*-*

If you haven't read the two preceding parts of this poem, they are available here and here. Alternatively, check out my profile to browse my stories in other genres and follow me on Facebook and Instagram to get updates on new stories. Please like and subscribe if you enjoyed. Thanks for reading!