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I did not choose for it to happen
I did not have a choice
But the gods
They do not care.

And so my hair is naught but snakes.

I came to this cave-
I had to eventually-
My only choice was when.

Still,  I chose the time of my own volition-
the people do not care.
They  blame me.
They say it was my choice to be struck
And drowned
And violated
In the temple I lived in.
They say i deserved the poison,
And they call me a monster.
The snakes may bite me,
But I choose who else they attack.

It is not my fault it happened.
The curse is not my fault.
The people, constantly attacking me and being killed for it-
It is their fault.
And it is the gods’ fault too.


The gods-
They do not care.
They send a boy to attack me,instead of doing it themselves.
Perhaps they feel guilty.

They do not care.

I cannot choose to die-
But I can choose when.
And so i open my eyes-

Foolish.
Used as an object, even in death.
inspired by https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/150926/medusa-with-the-head-of-perseus
Helios Lunar Sep 2020
I give my daily offering to the mighty Gods,
I thank Hades and Demeter for their gifts of allowing crops and vegetation,
I thank Zeus for protecting and leading all of us,

But as i proceed to thank the rest of the Mighty Gods i see him, so gracefully walking and carrying stones, i loose myself gazing at him not realising the thunderous storm building up,

Not knowing the Gods have noticed my defiance,
Loosing myself within his lively aura and graceful soul,
Unwillingly I decide to give him the most precious thing i have to offer,
My heart; is now forever his and only his,

The Gods seeing that now my undying loyalty lies only to him,
They see this as treacherous and label me as a heretic,
In doing so they decide to give me a more inferior punishment than Death itself,
Zeus building up his eternal power,
Gives a uplifting yet dim thunderbolt strike,
I see that it is directed toward him,
Panicking yet paralysed i watch,
My one true love fall still,
His lifeless heavenly green eyes gazing at me,

And then i realised my heart is now forever lost in the underworld with my one true love.
Lyn-Purcell Sep 2020

Dew bejewels snow skin
Lounge under the cypress tree
Where the air is fresh


New day, new haiku!
Slowly getting there today. Thank you to all who sent me kind comments, I really appreciate it! Truly, they are lights that make the days better by far.
Free verses are still in the works too.

This haiku is for Pandia, a minor goddess of sorts. Said to be the daughter of Selene and Zeus. In some myths, Pandia is a epithet for Selene herself. Again, theres not much on her at all but still. Even the most minor of goddesses should get some love, right?

Anyway, thank you all for growing followers, I'm forever humbled and grateful for the support 🙏🌹💜
Here's the link for the growing collection:
https://hellopoetry.com/collection/132853/the-women-of-myth/
Be back tomorrow with another one!
Please take care of yoursels and stay safe! RIP to Chadwick again 💔
Much love,
Lyn 💜
Lyn-Purcell Sep 2020

Body of the sea
All life swims about her womb
Don't lash her fury


New day, new haiku!
Still not feeling so great but I want to keep writing. I apologise for the inactivity.
I'm working on some free verses too. I'll let you all know when it's about to drop.
This haiku is for Thalassa, the primordial goddess of the seas.
She gave birth to the Telkhines, the four sea gods. They were also said to be warlocks and blacksmiths as well. Thalia was also the mother of the sea-nymph, Halia. This goddess was said to personify the very Mediterranean Sea and was a figure in Aesop's stories.

Being that her 'body is the sea', this poem is a reference to motherhood as well. For in her womb, various types of life, known and unknown.
And we as human begins defile her body with *******...
So sad...

Anyway, thank you all for growing followers, I'm forever humbled and grateful for the support 🙏🌹💜
Here's the link for the growing collection:
https://hellopoetry.com/collection/132853/the-women-of-myth/
Be back tomorrow with another one!
Please take care of yoursels and stay safe!
Much love,
Lyn 💜
Lyn-Purcell Sep 2020

Heart breaks with a beat
For she pines for this hero
Loathed to give him up


New day, new haiku!
Yesterday was such a terrible day... Even now, I feel so disoriented but I wont let it stop me from writing.

This haiku is for the nymph, Kalypso. She predominantly known for her role in the Odyssey. When the hero Odysseus was shipwrecked on her caverns and caves, she kept him there for many years (seven, I believe) for she was in love with him, even promising him youth and immortality but he was not swayed.

All he wanted was to go home. Hence what this haiku references, her pain and unrequited love for him. Even though the gods commanded she release him, she was loathed to do so but complied.
Alongside some tragic elements, theres an air of possessiveness around her as well.

A mix of various emotions but in a way, it makes her all the more human to me.
Anyway, thank you all for growing followers, I'm forever humbled and grateful for the support 🙏🌹💜
Here's the link for the growing collection:
https://hellopoetry.com/collection/132853/the-women-of-myth/
Be back tomorrow with another one!
Please take care of yoursels and stay safe!
Much love,
Lyn 💜
Lyn-Purcell Aug 2020

Luck floats on her palm
Her rudder turns the blessed tide
Fortune favours bold


New day, new haiku!
This haiku is for Tykhe, goddess of fortune and luck.
Her symbols were a cornucopia and a rudder. Chance and luck poured from her like a tide and she was well in control of it.

There are many variants of who her parents are, some myths say Zeus, others say Oceanus and Tethys. She was also linked to the Moirai, the goddesses of fate who will soon make their appearance soon.
The last line is a link to one of my favourite Latin quotes 'Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat', Fortune favours the bold! And it fits as this proverb is linked to Tykhe's Roman equivalent, Fortuna.

Anyway, thank you all for growing followers, I'm forever humbled and grateful for the support 🙏🌹💜
Here's the link for the growing collection:
https://hellopoetry.com/collection/132853/the-women-of-myth/
Be back tomorrow with another one!
Please take care of yourselves and stay safe!
Much love,
Lyn 💜
Lyn-Purcell Aug 2020

Horn of plenty spills
Bread and wine sustains all man
She holds up the torch


New day, new haiku!
Not feeling 100% today...
Such a sad day overall in truth 😔 RIP to Chadwick Boseman, T'Challa of Wakanda. My heart is so broken, my condolences to his family 💔🙏
The coming week Im gonna see a doctor too. I hope that goes well.
Now, for the usual daily haiku!
This one is for Demeter, mother of Persephone, daughter of Kronos and Rhea and Goddess of Agriculture, but also health and marriage as well.

Of course, she is known for being apart of her daughter's myth. She fretted so much when Persephone was taken to the underworld. She was also known to be a grain mother for humans. The horn of plenty aka the cornucopia is one of her symbols as well as the torch hence they are referred in the haiku. The motherly figure who always gives and provides. Its very fitting, isnt it? A light in the darkness. A hope in the fear and dread.

Anyway, thank you all for growing followers, I'm forever humbled and grateful for the support 🙏🌹💜
Here's the link for the growing collection:
https://hellopoetry.com/collection/132853/the-women-of-myth/
Be back tomorrow with another one!
Please take care of yoursels and stay safe! RIP to Chadwick again 😭💔
Much love,
Lyn 💜
Lyn-Purcell Aug 2020

Her heart burns with ache
Swept away by grief's mad tide
Cursed to know no rest


New day, new haiku!
The Younger Charites and the Furies have been completed! Now onto other women of myths, haha!

This haiku is for Lamia. Some myths say she was the Queen of Libya, some say she was just a regular woman. Some myths also say she was the daughter of Poseidon.

But she was known as a great beauty who caught the eye of Zeus which led into a love affair. Of course, when Hera caught wind of it, she was enraged  [we all know how reputed her rage is], and seeing how she could not take out her rage on her husband, she took it out on Lamia. Now it varies on how exactly, but either Hera did away with Lamia's children herself or she made Lamia end them herself. Worse of all, there's a version where Hera made Lamia devour her own babes.

No matter how, the end result is the same. Her children's lives were snuffed out. And she was turned into a monster. Again, some say by Hera but I have read variants that said that it was Zeus, curiously enough. The reason why Zeus did so was so that she could exact her vengeance upon the children of others.

On top of being made a monster, Hera twisted the knife further by cursing Lamia with restlessness so her heart will know no rest. She gouged her own eyes out but that didn't ease her pain because she couldnt unsee her children. Some myths say that Zeus gave her the power to remove her eyes himself.

Lamia's story is seen as a cautionary tale for children to behave.
Be it a phantom, a demon or an envious child eating monster, her origins are just so tragic. I truly feel for her...
Due to her depictions, there are links to her and the gorgons, vampires and succubi.
She is also linked to the Empousai [a shape shifting phantom who has a copper leg and was reportedly created by Hekate for purposes unknown], a Mormocyle [a female phantom whose name roughly translates to 'hideous/terrible wolf']. Lamiais were demons/phantoms who had the power of illusion. They take the form of a beautiful woman to lure young men to their deaths. They were said to have a snake's tail instead of legs.

Alot to take in, I know! I'm just a mega nerd for this sort of thing, haha!
But still, Lamia's story is so sad and tragic.

Anyway, thank you all for growing followers, I'm forever humbled and grateful for the support 🙏🌹💜
Here's the link for the growing collection:
https://hellopoetry.com/collection/132853/the-women-of-myth/
Be back tomorrow with another one!
Much love,
Lyn 💜
Lyn-Purcell Aug 2020

Break beneath the whip
For anger's unceasing flow
Under winged shadows


New day, new haiku!
Just when I thought I was getting better, I feel unwell again.
Just my luck, I swear...
This haiku is for the last of the Furies, Alecto. Alongside being the Goddess of Vengeance, she was also the Goddess of Anger. I believe her name translates into 'Unceasing Anger'.
She said that she punished criminals who committed crimes of anger, especially against others.
There is one thing that I find very interesting about the sisters as a whole - how the lines of vengeance and justice are completely blurred.
This sort of philosophy of vengeance and justice will always fascinate me.  


Anyway, thank you all for growing followers, I'm forever humbled and grateful for the support 🙏🌹💜
Here's the link for the growing collection:
https://hellopoetry.com/collection/132853/the-women-of-myth/
Be back tomorrow with another one!
Much love,
Lyn 💜
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