On becoming the Gorgon

Maybe you know me. At least 

you’ll have heard of my eyes

and how you ought not look

at them- fulgent, burrowing

beneath a veil of thick writhing 

braids. Don’t worry about me, 

I’m harmless. I only like lounging

under the moon. Solitude a cloak

that keeps the old dogs at bay. 

See, I was always just born & 

how could I help to be beauty. 

A rose does not create itself, 

it just lives and lives and lives

until someone comes and shears

it from its root. Then ferries the 

fragile body back to a dusty room. 

There, it becomes transformed. 

No longer the thing it was born

but something closer to the shedding

scales of a snake. Each petal ebbing

from the head one by one. Soon, 

the stem becomes inured like stone

under the gaze of bright mornings 

through the window. You have 

probably seen it and know. I

don’t know. I have this thing 

where I crave the raw look. I pull it 

in to me, knowing, that like that rose

every eye that sees me will turn, 

at heart, to dark veined marble 

with a gaze forever tilted away

with a gaze forever heaved

up to the moon & afield from me

Author's Note

In some versions of the Medusa myth, she is raped by Poseidon and transformed into the monster by Athena as a punishment. This poem stems from that story.

Reviews

[SkinlessFrank]

To be a woman in a man’s world is to have the eyes and minds of men always upon you, gazing and defining who you are. This poem makes us think back to those younger years when we would ask, “who are we?”. It has us recall that sense of being on the verge of self-discovery until life plucked us from that journey. The soul in your poem tells us that she “craves the raw look”. I think we all do. To reject those gazes and be ourselves in a world that is forever defining us from superficial qualities verges on a supernatural power.

[Eilis]

I like that you brought up the question of identity. For me that is so closely aligned to the idea I was trying to express here. Sometimes the ability to explore those questions of who we are is taken from us and replaced with a false construct imposed by others. Yet it is instinct to seek out ways of understanding the self. Sometimes the only way to feel empowered is through shutting out the world and embracing the power one has to eschew connection. If there happens to be someone that can stand up to the raw look and not turn to stone, the life built becomes a question. But the stone exists inside first, I believe, if it is able to be transferred. Thank you for your always thoughtful readings of my poems. I do enjoy your responses.

[Twilight]

Just responding to your Author's Note. In some publications, abridgements are made. This would explain perhaps, why some versions vary. Although, the reasons for such editing vary too. And, in the Ancient Greek world; other versions may have existed. Perhaps, a reflection of cultural attitudes back then; that a female rape victim was punished for the crime upon her? The hapless victim, was raped in Minerva's temple. In their cultural context, the temple was deemed chaste and holy; so rape would have been regarded as defiling that sanctity.

[Eilis]

Hi, Julian. Thanks for delving into the idea here. I think when I wrote this I was exploring the idea of victim blaming and how women are often blamed for the things that happen to them. Even sometimes blamed for their responses to trauma and violence. I appreciate the additional context you’ve added with your insights. That is helpful. Thanks for reading.

[Twilight]

I recognised all of those points too, Ellis; but other reviewers had already pointed them out - by the time I got around to reading this. And, as you reminded me; women can still be sometimes treated this way. Primarily, in situations where a gender-based hierarchy is part of the culture. In such past civilisations as ancient greece, women would have been trapped and subjugated in ways which would seem intolerable to the women of today.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

it's a very intriguing poem, greek mythology modernised with the pace of a thriller novel. the persona tells us to fear it, yet we can't help but feel pity. the extended metaphor of the rose was captivating. it is a lyrical and emotional piece that subtly explores the relation between shame and violence.

[Eilis]

I appreciate that you saw that relationship between shame and violence. That was key for me. Reading the story of Medusa reminded me of modern rape trials. Or how sufferers of violence are blamed and ostracized. It’s a troubling dynamic. Thanks for reading!

[Ranger Kessel]

Very nice mix of poetry and mythology. I enjoyed tour poem

[Eilis]

Thank you very much, Ranger.

[Ranger Kessel]

You're welcome

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"don't hate me because i'm beautiful"
yes, the rose does not create itself...and often unwanted attention comes with that beauty...
and the revenge is turning men to stone...love how you mix mythology with very real interaction between the beauty and the beast.
j.

[Eilis]

Thank you, Jacob. I do definitely want to further explore beauty as an avenue toward harm. It’s everywhere in the old stories and so many of our new stories are built on the old. Thanks for taking the time to read so many of my poems today. I appreciate you.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I can hear Jeff Lynne singing, Turn To Stone. Chicks with snakes for hair are a definite turn-off for me. But your poem is great.

[Eilis]

Ha, thanks, Fabian. Snakes for hair can definitely cause some logistical problems. Nice to meet you. Thanks for reading.

[CLR9]

This reminds me of the one movie where Angelina jolie had cgi b***s

[Neville]

Ah' they say you can beat an egg, as indeed one can.. but you just can not beat a bit of ancient mythology can ya.... Super well crafted and a great depiction my good friend and poet...

Reminds me of the missus on a bad hair day..... :)

[Eilis]

Haha, thanks Neville. Might be me on a bad hair day too. Thanks for stopping by and bringing a good laugh along with you. Always appreciate your visits.

[Robert Trakofler]

I like that depiction for the ugliness of her visage was the ugliness of the cruelty done to her and what worse fate to be put upon her by being punished for being raped:) truly to look upon those eyes so cruelly done wrong would freeze anyone to stone. I often wondered what the symbology of medusa was at its root your poem makes a great deal of sense.

[Eilis]

Thank you, Robert. Yes, so many of our old stories offer the symbol but leave it for us to garner our own understanding. I’m sure the original readers had a completely different perspective due to the nature of their societies in general.

I was just reading John Dewey last evening discussing the relevance of art outside of its context. So, what you say struck a chord just now. The cruelty of the old gods was far reaching. A consequence of so many unknowns, I suppose.

Thanks for reading and understanding my message. Hope you have a lovely holiday there!

[gram linski]

the raw look of monster, and yet we look , we cannot hide our yearning for beauty, even if it kills us, and Medusa can only be who she is , she is deadly rose, has no choice, and chuckled gently in the dawn,eyes averted, too late, loved this,

[Eilis]

Thanks, Gram. What you say about beauty is very true. The pursuit of it is haunting for sure. Our natures often conflicted in the face of it.

And Medusa’s being taken from her, she became even more so. The beauty still being the covering of the inside. Some people won’t like that idea I guess. Her being the monster in popular imagination. But we’ve made monsters out of many things that maybe didn’t warrant the title.

Appreciate your thoughts on this. Thank you.