"The Mount of Megiddo," Inspired by Salvador Dali's "The Temptation of St. Anthony"

A poem blending different elements of religion and struggle against temptation

 

The Mount of Megiddo

From Dalí’s painting, “The Temptation of St. Anthony”

 

You crouch on a bleak, barren wasteland,

Vast, devoid of life.

Your vision is that of death

In the guise of pleasure. This is your

Armageddon, fought near the

Mount of Megiddo.

 

Deformed monstrosities bear down upon you,

Long legs of lightning, ready to smite

Those who are tempted—the idolatrous,

The damned. All the world’s desires

On the back of the beast.

 

The godless Queen of Sheba rides in tow,

Bare-breasted and ripe with beauty,

Trading her gift of spice for lust and

Gold for passion. You are her Solomon

Today—will you renounce your God

For her love?

 

You are but one man—

A hermit, St. Anthony, against the might

Of the one you revile. Yet you stand before

The white horse of Death,

Naked, vulnerable. Though you have

No army, this is your battle in the

End of days. A crucifix for a sword,

In your hand, not your teeth,

Your words remain as powerful

As ever they were.

 

“Begone, Satan.

You shall not have this man.”

Author's Note

Just look at alliteration, the way sounds work with eachother. Also, tell me if my information is accurate, because this is one subject I don't want to screw up :)

Reviews

[Robert Francis Callaci]

A well crafted piece- Good flow -great visual language- I'd say that writing suits you- This piece has some good poetic chops- Dali is one of my favorite artists and this piece dripped with the flavor of that piece which inspired this poem.


my warmest
bob