We had a fabulously warm last weekend, then THAT next storm moved in and temperatures plunged 50 degrees in about two hours. Now we have highs pre-teen, lows, does - 1 seem real? February mercurial, yes! Warmer coming again!
I'm participating in Laura Shovan's birthday poetry group where we share prompts day by day, and write! I like some of my poems, occasionally wondered at my mindset at others. Nevertheless, it is always fun to write and then read all the other poems, poems that take my breath away!
Because in a very few days, it will be March, Women's History Month, I'm sharing the first poem I wrote, from a prompt from Laura, about the sphinx. Here's part of what Laura shared: "The winged sphinx of Boeotian Thebes, the most famous in legend, was said to have terrorized the people by demanding the answer to a riddle taught her by the Muses—What is it that has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed?—and devouring a man each time the riddle was answered incorrectly. Eventually, Oedipus gave the proper answer: man, who crawls on all fours in infancy, walks on two feet when grown, and leans on a staff in old age. The sphinx thereupon killed herself. From this tale apparently grew the legend that the sphinx was omniscient, and even today the wisdom of the sphinx is proverbial."
If you'd like to discover more, look here.
And here's my poem:
Rarely Mutable
Who? That woman there we see,
the one speaking to riddle thee.
If she true knows the answer’s letter,
it may not be that truth is better.
For her, for women alive today,
they try, they work, yes, Eves do play
Yet stories oft from centuries past
take flavors of betrayal’s cast.
No matter how man’s power’s lost,
what females earn is often tossed.
Linda Baie ©
Enjoy your own March's beginning. It holds the first day of spring!
I love how you've drawn the inspiration from Laura's challenge and the upcoming Women's History Month together in your poem. I'm glad that more and more unrecognized contributions of women to history are being centered in books and media. Thanks for sharing this today!
ReplyDeleteYou've captured an ominous tone, Linda, ending with, "what females earn is often tossed." I can feel the truth in that. Nice work, and thanks for helping me recall the story of the Sphinx.
ReplyDeleteInteresting backstory about the Sphinx and it was great seeing your poem! That last line is a zinger!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I am delighted you shared your poem again.It seems so long ago that I read your poem but it is so appropriate now on this day that Judge Jackson is being nominated by President Biden for a seat on the Supreme Court. Black History Month and Women's History are here to commend women. Let us hope that what females earn will not be tossed as history has done in the past.
ReplyDeleteYour poem (and the backstory) really makes one 'spinx', Linda. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh, WOW. I love that - and referring to women as Eves. This is fun - even though the Sphinx's story is a bit tragic.
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone. I hope you're having a great day. I've been working the morning shift at the bookstore so will try through the day and weekend to catch up on everyone's post. Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteI love the rhythm of your poem, and the message is sadly true. Thank you for sharing the inspiration for your poem!
ReplyDeleteThe strong female characters in some of the "once upon a time" prompt poems would have a thing or two to say back to your poem!
ReplyDeleteI love the voice of this...very crafty, very wise. And, "Eves" is so loaded with meaning old like the Sphinx. Wonderful poem. I'm looking forward to more! And, I hope you get a warm streak. -1?! Yikes!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful it is, to celebrate both the coming spring, and the stories of women, in one wonderful month.
ReplyDeleteThe POV you have here, with language or "dialect" of the past, insight, and history linked in a way that hits home, it provokes thinking, Linda. It sounds like a wonderful month of writing with Laura Shovan. I wish I had been able to join in. There is a glimmer of sunshine now, the snow that came down Thurs. night and all day yesterday amounts to maybe 8 inches, very pretty, but I can't wait to see it melt away.....maybe it will start later this week. I am glad March is coming soon. Thurs. I did not need boots!!!! But really who can complain, especially today, about the weather. I would hope that women's wisdom would reign more when based in love and support and brilliance. And men's when it, too, is based on all of these, and not power and greed.
ReplyDeleteIn my classroom we have been doing precepts from the book Wonder and occasionally there is one written in old English. I love how this poem reflects the time in the syntax. Just so smart!
ReplyDeleteNice rhythm and rhyme, and I like the old English feel, as Margaret mentions. And like Carol noticed, it is a good day for this poem. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is helping to make your last line less true! Thank you, Linda.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, everyone. I am glad to be in a group that worries about the world in all the challenges. I am watching the news from Ukraine and very excited about the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson!
ReplyDeleteMarvelous poem Linda, sad but true. I love that you put Eve in there and the circuitousness and flow of all your questions and lines, lots to ponder there…
ReplyDeleteIt was inspired to combine the sphinx prompt with Women's History Month, Linda! I was sitting here thinking that the prompt probably would have left me paralyzed. What to do with the sphinx?? But you did it!
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