Fear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photographer: Wagner T. Cassimiro "Aranha". Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.  This image has been modified from the original.  The original image can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/wagnertc/3218897788/

 

Fear

 

       “Man’s greatest danger…”

 

 

Hear the quiet

Feel the trembling!

Life is choked by heart near bursting

 

Twins of ancient

Orbit Father

Phobos, Deimos, ‘round Mars dancing¹

 

Agamemnon’s

Fearful Lion

'Blazoned on shield, growling mighty²

 

Bring, You, fear to

All Troy’s people

Prey to sons of Aphrodite

 

Panic, You, the

Master passion!

Love and Hope are slain by Phobos

 

And You, Fear, go

Undefeated!

All one’s friends are turned by Deimos

 

Twins, You are insidious

Your power is unstoppable

You reign with palsied hand

Above ignoble man

Make mockery of all of us

 

 

©2010, Richard Puetter

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

Notes:

 

¹Phobos and Deimos are the moons of the planet Mars.  They were also Greek gods and the sons of Ares, the god of war (Mars was the equivalent Roman god), and Aphrodite.  They are panic (Phobos) and Fear (Deimos).

 

²In 2^nd century AD geographer Pausanias’ lengthy book “Description of Greece” it was recorded that Agamemnon’s shield was decorated with the image of a lion’s head that depicted the god Phobos, "The Shield Shatterer".

 

Author's Note

A note about "Phobos" and "Deimos": These names are not universally translated the same way. Translations that I've seen use a number of terms, such as "fear", "panic", "terror", etc. to descibe Phobos and Deimos and any of these terms seem to be applied to either god. So my selection of associating panic with Phobos and fear with Deimos is just one of many different possibilities and it seems that flipping them around is nearly as common. However there are slightly more references (to my eyes) that associate Phobos with panic. Both brothers rode with Ares into war. They drove his chariot, in fact. Phobos was called the "Shield Breaker" and the one that caused utter panic in battle. Being sons of Aphrodite, both were associated with a fear of loss.

Rick

Reviews

[Mark]

What a surprise to learn that I had been incorrect for thirty years! I had always presumed that Phobos, because of its similarity to words like "phobia", was the moon which translated to Fear!
But as ever, you have taken scientific truth and historical fact and artfully blended them into an interesting and creative verse. Always a pleasure to read your stuff, my friend. Keep up the good work!

[Tate Morgan]

you are a deep thinker

[Dysphoria]

Very powerful stuff and it's good to see the classics being with such strong effect.

[Belator Books]

Ah, mythology. Just the use of the ancient names conjures up a strange realm all its own. The use of weapons are scattered about the lines as if a battlefield's remnants. Nicely done.

[cest la vie]

Once more you have taken this un-educated mind and educated it through a beautiful piece of writing..
Double trouble.. fear.. Greek Gods.. My, how you have woven this into a wonderful poem.
I thoroughly enjoy your pieces not only for the historical factors, but the sheer beauty of your lines.
Outstanding Rick and I thank you for the chance to read this piece.
ynne

[emmajoy]

Could the twins be the double-edged sword we so often think about?

'Fear is the most lethal of all tools' - can't recall who wrote/said that.

What a brilliant post, Rick - not that you ever write anything but. You have the knack of bringing ancient gods to life, to teach or remind us of ancient history .. in fact, you open doors.

[Ellen Hammond]

Now I know why my mother always said twins are double trouble! Or do you suppose it might have had something to do with her twins, Allen and Ellen? LOL

Rick you always teach me something or at least make me ponder. I was never much into Greek mythology but you bring it to life. Reading this makes me think that perhaps the word 'phobia' was derived from Phobos as irrational fear is contributed to him.

This is a lot lighter read yet read than I expected yet profound. Excellent in its structure as always.

[Gandré]

Well, this feels a bit bold. I mean, all this Greek pride - they were quite miserable, see where it leads, haha, this their pride (current Greek affairs). But you like it, the 19th century liked it, too.
And the positive impulse of your poem is: this was your own idea - I like this fact most.

[Rilke and Myself]

ooh! good one!!!!