Pandora

Pandora's Box

the greek myths hold

that all the miseries,

out of the folly of pandora

were thus brought upon humans

epimetheus

ensnared by the god’s traps

unheeded prometheus’ counsel

land of all-time spring

daffodils, hibiscuses, daisies—

all growing, not in flower farms

rivers flowing with milk and nectar

oak trees filled with acorns

mountain strawberries

all these, good pilgrim,

lost

but for every trouble,

the myth says,

there is hope

to soothe human woes

Poseidon

when the swelling waves of the lake mutinied,

brow-beating thunder, rumbling skies added to the frenzy

in its maze catching the lethargic fishermen by surprise.

of what lay hidden in those Lake Victoria waters,

no soul knew; of what the lake floor spread across

with unsatiating appetite for human blood, no soul

knew; caught up in the fish net was Poseidon’s spirit

the fishermen drew it up, up, up

eish yawa, fish wasn’t that heavy omera.

it was a trident, but no one saw it

it was the enraged Poseidon, but no one knew him.

that was 1867, but why should it matter

the tridents flew into men’s heads

the son of Cronus and Rhea was on a war path

tale has it that the fishermen’s bodies were bloodless

and are buried on the floor of Lake Victoria

right at Poseidon’s shrine.

o, Poseidon,

what irked you so much that year?

was it your brother Zeus or Athena, the goddess of war?

but why, Poseidon, the god of earthquakes, did you spread

your wrath to these remotest parts, and to lakes, to boot?

Penelope

In the unbridled passions

that intoxicate hearts of men

amid many ungirded loins, discreet adultery

still, an inspiring epic is still woven

Of souls, led not by flesh,

Waiting upon the spark that will

Light up the long-held embers of love

Laurel of Apollo

Link

Sweet Daphne, such a still love

Unshaken by the tempests of our times

Others might see it as unfortunate

As for me, Apollo, your bark and roots

Remain ever sensual and loving

Bacchus

Link

Dear Bacchus:

A revolt is stirring up, heretical esophagus

are soiling your name— 

in bars, in parties, in the streets.

I saw a pair of inebriated eyes

Staring at a pavement, hand on bottle

I thought I would let you know, somehow.

Prometheus

Google

O, Poor Titans!

Where did your might escape to?

You had your son, Prometheus,

A wise soul, diametrically different

From your quarrelsome selves

For love unselfish, dear Prometheus

Stole red flower from Jupiter, King of Sky and Earth,

All this trouble for man!

Poor Prometheus had his liver devoured by vultures

Chained to a rock day and night

No greater love was demonstrated as thus.