The Lost Constellation

A Greek mythological epic poem. Written in 10 beats per verse. A story of true love.

­­­The

Lost

­Constellation

 

­    

By Thom  f. Duppstadt

 

     A breeze of gentle blow complimented

Our songs, those of th` lyrical wing`d Muses.

Fair voice Calliope in poetic say-

“Reveal I the great story hidd`n within th` stars.

Within each lies a tale of heav`nly claim.

The glory of their songs that light th` night skies

Are the sole inspirations for all things great.

Recent celebration are those in arts

Of all talents within the heav`ns and Earth,

Rejoicing a grand new inspiration,

For th` reach of heav`ns reveal a great song

Unsung. Even the God of the heavens

Hath not all the knowledge of its luster.

Four stars of brilliant glow Urania

Doth find gracing the heav`ns beyond thy sight,

Hidden in th` skies of Jupiter`s shadow.

It`s story reveals an unheard of embrace-

The union of souls, that of god and human.

Peaceful serenity within th` shining stars,

Out of Torment`s reach resides their love.”

 

In lyrical prose, Calliope tells their

Tale hidd`n within the lost constellation.

 

 

 

Book I

the intrigue

 

         Th` son of Cronus, adorn in his aegis,

Clench`d in right hand th­<sub>­</sub>` impressive thunderbolt.

Zeus beckon`d the Fates of future, Atropus,

Third sister to Lachesis and Clotho.

With hurried pace the old woman approached.

Dress`d in white raiment she stood in shadow

Of the exalted great God of the sky.

Clouds of darkest grey overcame th` heavens,

Push`d by the wind of his imposing voice.

“Daughter of Necessity, of thy gift

I impose, sing to me of promised time,

For Queen of the heav`ns whose wandering eye

Dares to foresake our celestial marriage.

With careful surveillance I`ve watch`d Hera

Whose idle thoughts are fill`d with envy

To own the compassion of human love.

Ignore will she her devotion to Zeus,

To deny and embarrass the love of This god

Then give her devotion to someone else?

Even to extend such insult so to

Bestow her love to that of a Human?

Answer me th` fate of this ungrateful Queen!

Sing me her song that is virgin of time.

Relieve th` suspicion that encumbers me.”

        

         Blameless is Hera, th` Goddess of marriage,

For mocked is she of her own province.

Abounding patience for her husband`s lusts

That go unrestrain`d. In guise of a swan,

Or bull, or stream of gold, unfaithful Zeus

Could not hide his salacious affairs from

The keen eye and tending ears of Hera.

In attempts to veil th` ruin of her pride

Revenge she sought upon his mistresses an`

Their seeds. Blame her not for such harden`d heart.

Alas patroness of monogomous

Marriage and model of chastity for

Whose own husband`s devotion is without.

Only in her dreams could she find solace, th`

Mutual compassion and fidelity

amidst the purest most passionate love.-

By human claim only of such she`s seen.

         Don`t haste to surmise this force of love to

Be the influence of Eros, God of

Love, for his arrows pierce that of carnal

Desire, God of lust rather be his claim.

This love which I speak is a desire of th`

Soul.

          May you judge her reason of intrigue;

To admire what one is without or is

Her intrigue because its beauty is

Truly worthy of such? `Tis th` latter I

Inspire thee to consider.

                       Clearly the

Goddess of heaven is fully detailed

Of what makes a man but where to his being

Doth this ingredient come? That which, by

A bait`d emptiness will seek with reverence

Wholeness of his wanting soul, save are those

Ignorant to their soul`s imperfection,

But those of stubborn heart heed th` air of hope,

Enduring in cruel torment th` sport of Time;

Till by unknown passage to his aching

Spirit is heard a familiar song of such

Subtle lure he is oblivious yet

Still he`s guided. The vastest ocean can

Not drown its beautiful song; nor can the

Greatest mountain dissuade it from its

Fated mark; nor by th` persistence of time

Will it forget the glory of it`s song;

Not even the Golden Gates of heaven

Can discourage its relentless search.

O rare it is through the myriad of

Roaming souls that such song find its urging

Ambition, but what a marvel it is upon its

Reach that lures the willing,yet unaware

Beloved to the heart from which it`s sent.

         By eternal observe Hera hath not

Seen its grand equivalence, that of its

Illustrious reunion. As if for

Countless years of absence returns home a

Son to his waiting mother, of that which

Never was. What is this grand something from

Nothing that which such splendor may arise? Such

Delicate harmony there between, as

If one were made for the other and the

Other the same. Wondrous! 0 such is that

Love which bonds them then blossoms to that which

Is e'en more fantastic; as a seed to th`

Earth becomes a rose or a musician

To his instrument, so grand its music

They create. Such beauty human love knows.

Two souls of one by love's gentle embrace

Unite and blossom celestial grace.

Vacantly through the clouds Hera

Would stare unto the Earth. The company

Of her pleading song kept dry her wishing

Eyes. Alas this fair Queen, by trade of her

Kingdom would desire only a love so

Pure, uncorrupted by the arrogant

Tamperings of the gods. Who could not conceive

To admire such love to that which escaped

 her own patroness cove?

 

Book II

the vision & the four curses

 

The intimidating glow of the Cloud

 Gatherer's immense thunderbolt reflect'd

 Upon the aged face of Atropus.

 She stood within th' glare of his impatience

 Which hasten'd collection to her reply,

 The sealed fate of Hera, of that which

 He commanded. The anxious air listen'd

 To take heed of her song. By way of truth,

 So sang Atropus, for what time beholds

 For this Queen's immortal soul.

"The sealed

 Fate of this Goddess through vision I speak.-

 Recognized will she by one who could not;

 Amidst th` grandest yet seen love; by this man

 Of mortal who will be though is not, claims

 By offer her immortal heart, and by

 Their song so shall they be separate though still

 Together contented in an air of

 Peace."

    Upon her closing word, three claps of

 Furied thunder attacked the once sleeping

 Air of th' heavens, growing colder with the

 Fear of th` Cloud Gatherer`s wrath. Dark was the

 Booming roar of his vengeful tongue, for a

 Fool Zeus was taken within his godhead.

"Damned you Fates of lies and disgrace! Your

 Clumsy tongue spills nonsense from your lip; it

 Is this you need sewn rather the fabric

 That don the fate of men, then perhaps you

 May have escap'd your own swift comming fate.

 Your riddled words of contradiction may

 Befool the witless humans; but dare you

 Wench to test me common as they? Fool! I

 Need not your decree what lies in step

 For Hera by walk of time, for it shall

 Be a fate by that of my own choosing.

If human desire is what she seeks, then

                                I shall cast her to live as they; cast in

Exile upon the earth. Without th' comfort

Of the pillowed clouds that carpet the

Floor of her lost kingdom, calluses shall

Form beneath her tender feet, soiled upon

The sands by the labor of her walk. The

Heavenly chariot will pass over

Her, ignoring th' pleas of her tired cries.

The humans will be her equal, save her

Immortality and th' hushed memories

Of the coddled life of divinity.

"Unrecognized will she by the gods

And mortals, for her name she'll be without;

Subject to the torments of Hunger, she

Must labor to appease his appetite,

For no longer will men toil the fields for

Her offering. No longer to men is

She worthy of worship, worthy to

Them only to seize th' bloom of her divine

Beauty, for this shall still remain, provoking

The passions of their unrespecting lusts.

Sleep will master her nights and taunt her dreams

With better days. No longer will slaves kneel

Anxious unto her presence. No longer

May she command armies with merely her

Intimidation, for they shall laugh at th`

Soft maiden voice upon her demands.”

                   “Third

Of my cast to see through my will, a dream

Shall deceive twin brothers upon this night;

Ignorance of the gates shall conceal to

Know better. Through th` ivory gate of

Falsity they'll pass to deceit (though th` gate

Of horn is that of true dreams). Led by my

Words they'll seek th` fallen Queen, an` rage onto her

A crucifying accusation.”

      “An` You!-

Foolish Atropus, whose words without, bless

By th' wisdom of Minerva, shall assist

In my plot to insure of its prevail;

For ten paces I bound thy incentive

Step by th` chains of My will, to th` fair ankles

Of the maiden Queen, till wailing eyes no

Longer reflect upon a human male`s

By eternal decree.- If th` truth of your

Vision is this, then released of your

Chains upon that day. Eagerness of your

Own freedom shall whelm to my advantage

As your sympathy for th' Queen is consum'd

By your selfishness.”

                        "Plunged unto the

Labors of men, in step with the teasing

Frustration of her daft intrigue, shall soon

Awaken this slumbering reverence

Demanding of th` spoils from her marriage

To me. Let  her crawl on swollen knees

An' plead my forgiveness, and never again

Shall Hera forsake the value of my

Kingdom!"

      Lo! Never have th' heavens trembled

 As violent as upon this day. The fierce

 Brows of Zeus mock'd the wings of a diving

 Eagle, whose long razor claws outstretch to

Impale its unwary prey. He raised

 The great thunderbolt high into the air

 (Whose chill was an omen of th' tragedy

To befall the Goddess of Heaven). An

Eerie calm suddenly seiz`d th' heavens.

As

Sudden as th` quiet surprised- flashed th`

Impressive thunderbolt of th` almighty

Father; O so brilliant its flash to blind th`

Sight of Light itself; gulping the shapes of

All things in its whiteness. A deafening

Boom accompanied the flash, so loud as

If all th' gods of heaven and Avernus

Had united th' strengths of their voices

And released them upon this instant.

Four times they paired and boast its display

Unto the fearing skies of the heavens.

Each to represent the tragedy of

A curse to recast the fate of Hera.

 

Book III

exile

 

The promised decree against this fallen

Goddess was cast as Zeus had commanded

So. Realization was blind to the crime

Of her punishment. Much wonder led hand

Of her confusion as to who even what

She was, and how whence thither brought, and by

Who and why. Why. Never have the ducts of

Her almond-eyes felt need of its purpose.

Without sound or expression th' emptiness

Within her velvet brown eyes spilt with th' rain

Of her abandon'd heart. Clear awkwardness

Lifted her gentle fingers to touch the

Unfamiliar wetness that came over

Her cheeks, that made way 'cross the curve of her

Chin, beading a drip unto th` dry soil

Beside her sandaled feet; then another,

Mocking the path of the one before it.

Then another. Then another, each

Increasing its follow. She then looked

To the trembling of her arms. Her skin of

A chill unresponsive to the warmth of

The earthly surrounding air. She felt no

Divine. She felt no glory. The substance

Of divinity eluded the fair

Earthly maiden, like that of a garden,

Whose fragrant beauty an' florid attention

Is plucked with that of its flowers.

Woe for she who hath lost all she hath known.

Her sorrow wavered as her eye caught hint

Of company. Without even a look

In way of her watch, staring only to th`

Crossroads which lay before her, through frozen

Tears she spoke to Atropus, unflexed of

Tone. "I recognize you aging Fates

Atropus, by the air from which you stand

And you too know me; however, now I

Know not even of myself so I must

Implore you to answer- For who am I?"

Atropus, for whose talent of spinning

Eternal resolve both great and tragic

Has made dull the involvement of her care;

Though she questioned to understand the

Intrigue that hath brought such grief and struggle

When th' very heavens belonged to her.”

"June, for whose name I birth as virgin as

Thy maiden bloom, I ask, for reason of

My own mind, why are you here? For all in

All and by its creation belonged

To you. A riddled vision is what I

Make. What is it you see that fails my

 Sight?” June looked beyond the crossroad and

Responded, heavy of heart.

                             "Alone

Within my private clear, many flowers

Surrounded me. It was there I would spend

My moments of peace and in its hand the

Idle thought. Th' conflicts of war, impaling

Jealousies, an' the abounding bitterness

Could not exist amidst th' fragrant beauty

Of th' circling flowers of all existing

Breeds; th' rose, th` iris, lilies and violets,

And 0 the hibiscus that withers at

The shade of night, to room for the birth of

Anoth'r upon th' wake of th' early-rising.

There, so many in beauty and color

To take back th' breath of the ironhearted

Returning to his in most gentle sigh.

By where I sit to convenient eye the

Scarlet carnation repeated to my

Eye's reflect. From this blossomed he of

My own mind; the sort, by women of all

Who without dare to create. Th' carnation

Grew and took upon his shape, the scarlet

Turned to mist about him. Violet

Soon consumed its mist and carnation

He became once again. There and again

He stood before me whose face of detail

Was lost within the silhouette, painted

Upon the changing colors of the mist."

It was upon these words that glazed her

Vacant eyes yet spoke with such tender

Sincerity as though to supress all

Doubt that th` vision in her mind was the world

Upon which she stood. "I can almost see

Him now before me. What words might I choose

If he stood before me now, forgive me?

Of such feeling I could not know, for I've

Lived without it all my life. Is it

Then any wonder why I have failed

To recognize you? There seems to be so

Much I must say, though th' words I am without,

Except for these, I-" In midsay, June's eyes

Focused with the realization, the

Truth upon where it was she really stood.

She recovered her thoughts, then upon

Redirection concluded her mind.

    "I

Challenge th' assumption, the naivety

Of my belief that begs my longing for

This fantastic dream to be real. For why

Could it not exist? Profan`d honor was th'

Blessing of my husband's love. Is it my

Deserve to suffer such indignity?

He casts me unto this earth to mourn the

Loss of his love? For how can I lose that

Which I never had. I grieve only the

Love that hath failed his display." Pausing

A moment in idle thought, she began

To walk the forest-lined road, fully keen

To th' intention of it all. Atropus

Spoke not a word, pestered by

A blushing embarrassment, for she knew th'

Aware of June, the insuring reason

Of her follow.

 

Book IV

the false dream

 

The worst of June's

Torment had yet to impact. To th` vantage

Of the Thundergod, peaceful slumber made

Vulnerable the dreaming minds of twins

Spite and Aporius. Through the gate of

Ivory, Zeus voiced his fiction.

     "By

The shape of heaven I speak unto you

The fleeted memories of your birth, lost

Within th' infant minds now grown matured.

Sacrifice was your mother, from whom sprung

The disappointment of your birth, shamed

By th' gender of your male result. She flung

From her arms your helpless selves unto

Th' birthing water that spilled in waste from

Her aching loins. For this wicked act to

Retreat from thee, th' responsibility

Of thy care. Hiding to such lengths to change

Even her name, she knew to be th' only

Way you may identify your well-spring.

June is th' fictitious name of her choosing.

Go! Do as thy must, for the gods shall view

Thy acts as reasonable deserve for th'

Abandonment of your infant care, left

Still unpunished. Of course, upon your

Find she will deny such accusation.

Let this not fool you, for the guilt of her

Crime is conceal 'd in th' garb of innocence."

Even before Dawn had awoke to bless

Her rosy finger unto the shades

Of night, the two brothers had already

Set out for their revenge, ignorant to

The fallacy of their angry belief.

It took not long to find this woman,

For they were led unknowing by the silent

Hand of Zeus. Four days travel to face June,

The false mother's name to their believe. Spite

And Aporius glared unto her

Opposite face, steadfast of their calm. Spite

Then raged his voice that startled the aware

Of June's attention.

"Lo! I curse thee who

Abandoned me in my innocence.

I needn't hear thy reason, it lies without

Justice for thine unforgivable act.

To the heavens I pray, as also my

Brother, these words that follow!”

"This sordid

Woman who before me stands, fled in shame

For the gender of her infant sons. My

Brother and I pray to thee, th' Punisher

Of evil doers to make right th' balance

Of justice. If this woman could without

Conscience, ignore the deserving needs of

Her own sons, let the needs of her own from

That of any man go unrequited.

Make her run from their eyes, those that attempt

To gaze into hers and if dare they tempt

In curious follow to understand

Her flee, may her voice burn with a flame of

Scorching reach to th' ears of her kind suitor,

So they may flee from her as swift as she

Had fled from us so many years ago.

(Spite's voice then turned to June.) Your conscience

Was without regret till with blame we found

You; now that it hath awaken, may it

Whelm to consume thy miserable heart!"

Nemesis, Goddess of Vengeance, heard the

Prayer and judged his plea righteous. So

It was done. The sons returned to their

Home reliev`d of their part, convinc`d of their

Right.

 

Book V

the birth of Spite & Aporius

 

    Explain though I must, th` true telling of

The two brothers. Side by side of the tale

By Zeus the immediate happenings

Upon their birth, no less dramatic is

Th` truth of their story, perhaps even that

All the more. Be aware of thy surprise,

The common lust of Zeus bore the twins Spite

And Aporius. `Tis true! Upon His

Usual rounds to view th' harvest upon the

Countryside, His eye caught glimpse of fair-skinn'd,

Sacrifice. She walked in her way to

Bathe in a stream, well hidden amongst

The shadows of many surrounding trees,

Those well matured. Th' delicious softness

That blessed her maiden skin grew most strong

Zeus' wanting taste, and so took His form of

The welcoming water as she stepped

Bare within it. Her mind disagreed, though

Her eyes rolled with his passion as he

Planted His seed.

             The emotion of Zeus

Was not of a shallow one. Truly, love

Filled his desire; though what would be the

Result, if Hera (at this time still nam'd)

Should stumble upon these b*****d twins, well

Warmed within the womb outside of her

Own? For this affair, what vengeance might she

Seek, if the scent of their father Zeus, should

Rise to tell of his infidelity?

Lucid concern sought his only course of

Action, that of a disturbing one. His

B*****d sin He could not take back though (how

Vile a thought) he could remove. My words too

kind- Nay, it was murder! A bull he cast

Upon the labor of Sacrifice. His

Special beast to make last the first breath of

His own children, th' proof of His affair. Zeus'

Softness for Sacrifice commanded the

Bull, that violence be free of her,

Though where within a beast of the wild doth

Discipline find reason to tame its primal

Instinct? For what reason? Still Zeus left his beast,

Assured his course be taken.

                                                `Tis strange th`

Air of dread that whelms thee in its presence;

Alas these two children, too young to

Mind, they began to scream in this terror that

Churned their infant stomachs. Sacrifice

Held th` newborns, numbed by this poison of

The air. Lo! If thou could hath seen those eyes.

Like arms they reached to seek mercy from

The beast. How cold its return as the bull

Bowed low its great horns, glaring stubborn with

The hunger for violence. Its panting

Grew anxious. The hoof of th' bull, size greater

than a tree, rose and landed so solid

The sky felt the rage that shook beneath its

Sunken step. Three times it thunder'd an`  prepar`d

Its charge. The bull's eyes burned th` stomach of

Sacrifice an` roared its wild cry as its

Charge was releas`d. Th` earth shook as it advanc`d.

Sacrifice froze with indecision that

Was comsum`d in a pain of hopelessness.

        She

Saw nothing. To watch, one could say he was

A man with careful strength and a boldness

Without fear, though it was fear that ruled him.

He had watched the bull upon its charge. The

Man raced forth to save the two children

And Sacrifice, but was without success.

Two hands could only save two. The horn of th`

Bull impaled Sacrifice through her chest.

The huge bull then turn'd with singular mind,

The will of Zeus with violent hunger combin'd. Th`

Bull freed her body from its gruesome horn,

Slumping her onto the crimson pool. Its

Eyes met upon th' stranger's in evil thirst

Of a challenging demise. Th' panic'd

Eyes charged the stranger to act upon

His own rage. The bull leaped in anxious

Gallop. He quickly laid the twins behind

A rock and lept up to make his attack.

The hands that seem'd to move with instinctive

Accuracy shook with a trembling fear.

His eyes burn'd upon th` charging bull. In the

Moment before th` bull had reach`d him the man

Lept onto the neck of the beast so to

Lay upon its back. It was instinct that

Led his actions, twas rage that gave him strength.

He seized the bloody horns and hurled

Himself in front of th` beast. How impressive

The result, his weight twisted th` neck of th` beast,

Its body th` same, driving the beast into

The dirt, with a force of deadly measure.

The mass of the bull broke its own neck, its

Own soul had crushed. Beneath its great mass th`

Violence was hush`d.

    Praisable was his

Selfless act. No better could he have made th`

Result, though still within he cursed himself.

Hero one could claim to be, though never

Would he say. Does a hero fear? Is he

Sure of his action? Is he a man so

Blinded by rage he cares not of himself?

Or is he a man who is just afraid

Of not reacting at all?

  He walked

over an` knelt beside th` blood-soaked mother.

His eyes could not leave her and his mind kept

In repeat the gruesome display that claim'd

Her. For failing to save her, in the silence

Of his thoughts he prayed to her spirit in

Hopes she might forgive him. With his mind to

The most at peace, he arose to approach th' slain

Bull. No small task was such his feat; his hands

He placed upon the base of the horn

And braced the air as he lifted it,

Tearing the horn away from its lifeless

Mass. Great was its horn though less need of its

Size; so breaking it to the length of a

Man's forearm. Equal in width to both end's

Reach. He stashed it away within his

Shirt. His eyes and attention turned to

The rock, for behind laid the infant

Children. The great responsibility

Whelmed the mind as slowly he stood. Th' twin's

Cries grew louder as closer he stepped.

Lo! From where it came whose attention to

See? A blinding light bit his eyes as the

Rock before him shattered. The children

There lay behind the rock as it mingled

With th' dust.

  "What has happened here?!" Boomed

The fierce voice of Zeus. Loathing widened

Their eyes as each came to look upon the

Eyes of each other. "Tomus!" Exploded

The anger of Zeus. By sound of his name

Th' twins silenced their cries.

   To recognize

One then to no longer be a stranger;

So as not to be left under th' veil of

Ignorance, I shall tell you of this man

Named Tomus.

 

Book VI

Tomus

 

Tomus was a long time

Student of the titan Prometheus,

The forethinker, son of Themis.- Ah more,

He raised him as well. Prometheus

Knew not by whom sent. One day upon his

Wake there aside lay the infant Tomus.

Still a mystery are th' names of his parents;

One was divine the other human, `tis

All we know. Gifts from each were given in

Birth. Immortality be it a gift

From his godly half; unmatched by any,

His great sense of beauty in nature and

Form; and so mighty is his emotion.

All these be it th' blessings from his divine

Parent. His human parent bless'd unto

Him the greatest of affection and an

Unquenchable curiosity. Their

United gift blessed him with a most

Harmonious nature.

 Prometheus rais'd

Tomus well. He taught much to detail, the

Way of the sea, stars, gods, and men, as well

as their virtues.

    "Virtue," he would say, "are

Laws by which a man governs himself, a

Gift he creates for one's own spirit which

No one but himself may take away. Keep

To mind these three virtues. Find thy courage

To stand always for truth no matter the

Odds, maintain thy honor; be concerned

With thy inner being, keep the balance of

Truth, love, and courage to maintain thine own

Spirituality; and understand

Thy place in the universe, not by thine

Own deeds but in regards to th' intrinsic

Worth and respect for all individuals

Be it god or human; maintaining such

Is humility."

True Prometheus

Was wise, as were those who taught Him; moreso,

Age and life took greater claim in shaping

His beliefs. I to explain so as not

To view the voice of Prometheus as

Empty words, rather in the stead, see good

Reason for what he speaks.

  Prometheus

Was once mortal, his immortality

Was giv'n to him by th' wise and so kind Chiron

 (Not wholly lost was his immortality,

He lies in th' heavens as th' constellation

Centaurus), still clear is this lesson of

Humility, for Prometheus lived

The lives of both and so learned each their

Struggle.

   Other stories too were told to

Tomus by Prometheus, of how he

Aided th' mortals against th' hostility

Of the gods; Zeus' tales were told to great

Lengths with the greatest of satisfaction.

Well versed in the virtues of men and

Admirer of their struggle to maintain

It, Tomus worshipped no god; rather

Strove to better himself in respect to

His own spirit. So without prayer or

Offering to th' gods, many trials found

His way. Conflicts with both gods and humans.

To what mattered, success seemed to find him,

Though not without great loss. The gift of the

Divine, his immortality pass'd way

To another. `Tis a grand tale worthy

Of your attention. Twas the first meeting

Of Tomus and Zeus.

 

Book VII

Tomus loses immortality

 

The great Thundergod

Tallied his many sacrifices from

All across the Earth, though even this could not

Appease His pride. Some of the,greatest beasts

Roamed within th' watery kingdom ruled

By his brother Poseidon. Th' sea harbor'd

The most mysterious creatures of which th`

Cloud Gatherer was determin`d to claim

At least one for His own sacrifice. Perhaps

This could fulfill His pride driven hunger,

To claim a great beast from His own brother's

Kingdom.

The Lord of th' sky gathered

A crew of eager seafarers to carry

Out His deed. A count of eight well-trained

Pilots, stock 'd well with nets and equipment

For a half-day sail, took to the sea

Board a mighty ship. From oar to sail the

Ship sailed way by th' southeast wind.

    Tomus

Was a great admirer of the living

Sea. The motion of the water eased

Th' worries of his mind. He spent his idle

Moments on th' sands of its shore conversing

With the nymphs that inhabited therein.

On occasion Tomus would travel to

The harbor to collect supplies where the

Merchants resided. Twas upon his reach

That his ears overheard the fishermen

Complaining of a large ship, still barely

Visible upon the horizon. The

Fishers said the ship was too large to

Dock at th' port where they stopped for supplies

And shattered the coral that housed

The tropic fish. Tomus then inquired

The fishermen about the ship. The fishers

Said th` men claimed rights by Zeus to capture

A school of long-necks from the sea so they

May be slaughtered for His sacrifice.

Tomus knew th' rights of th' gods and th' kingdoms of

Each their claim. To know of such violation

Within th' sea he so respected Tomus

Could not bear to stand against action, and

Against his own virtue of honor.

    The

Fishermen who sat upon th' harbor looked

Questioning toward Tomus as he quickly

Dove into the ocean and swam like the fish

In heading toward the distant ship. The    

Fishermen lept to their feet, astonish'd

At how effectively he glided through

The glistening blue water. His distance

Reach was soon beyond their reach of sight.

  Still

From sight those aboard th' hunting ship, Tomus

Rose from the water, no further than to

Take freely the air through his nose. A

Good distance before him swam a school-

Perhaps family of long-necks feeding

Upon th' small fish that swam about th' surface.

Three grey long-necks, their head like a cow's

Or camel's to compare. Their body like

The sea lion and their tail not unlike

That of the vicious alligator; though

Far from vicious are these harmless creatures.

Larger than man be it their size, though no

Harm could they cause unto any human.

The scene of an innocent feeding from

The sea, innocent with no mind of the

Ship to their hunt that sailed in wide circle

Around them.

Its crew poured from wooden

Barrels, a deep black oil off the stern of

The ship, staining the sky blue water to

The empty color of th' blackest

Night. Poisoned fish rose to the

Surface- blue, gold, silver and red. Fish of

All specie and size.- This be it my

Guess for all their colors are of a dull

White when it is upon their bellies they

Lay afloat.

    Barrel after barrel they

Spilled into th' sea until full circle

Round the serpents there be. Their sails shifted

And the rudder turned to sail into

The center of their black circle of oil.

The eyes of Tomus widened with wild

As he watched th' hunters toss a flaming

Torch into th' oil that sat upon th' sea. The

Flame raced in circle around him, the

Creatures and the ship. From blue to white, then

Orange to red, the flame raged as if to

Reach to th` coal black smoke which rose high above

It.

   Th` ship, now in heading, raced toward

The long-necks as its crew extended the

Large net that would snag its prey. The creatures

Circl'd in place to eye their frantic escape,

Though alas they are serpents and not fish

Who could dive deep to safety beyond the

Bounds of the flaming wall that circled them.

No less frantic darted th' eyes of Tomus

To stop this injustice. He turned to

The floating tree branches that churned in th`

Waves made by the stern of the charging

Ship (it must have drift from the nearby land).

Tomus held his air and quickly ducked

Beneath the surface of th' water and he

Swam like th' dolphin as he charged toward

The ship. The ship moved faster as its

Sail captured the pushing wind. Tomus

arose to clutch onto a floating branch,

So large to take need of both his arms. He

Turned the branch as if to spear, his legs

Kicked, his body thrashed to fight th' growing

Waves that pushed from th' stern of the racing

Ship.

In the moment before the net was

In able reach of its desperate prey,

Tomus dove into the powerful waves,

Still clenching onto the branch, he swam at

The stern unto the hull of the ship to

Where the rudder kept its course. Only one

Of divine could wield such strength as Tomus

Pushed to side the rudder and jammed

The branch to hold its place. Forcing th` ship to

Turn from its course.

       Tomus broke from th' surface

And gasped to ease th` pain of his aching

Lungs. Upon th' ship, three men vainly pulled

At the wheel that could not budge th' fastened

Rudder. The five others untied knots and

Pulled upon the ropes of the rigging

To yank down the mighty sails; for the ship

Sailed in circle toward th` great wall of

Flames, though their speed was not so easily

Slowed. Their captain cried out to release

The ship`s anchor. Perhaps sooner had he

Called then be it their success, though when

Upon the ocean's bottom the anchor came to

Reach, the ship drifted into the center

Of the raging flames. The burning oil

Stained the wooden hull of the ship. The

Flames licked the sides of the hull; creeping

Slowly, devouring beast, growing larger

As it feasts rising unto sails as th' ship

Anchored into the center of the

Raging flames. Th' crew dove into th' water as

Their ship was consumed and sank into

The sea.

          Th' circle of fire now deadened,

Tomus watched the serpents duck softly

Beneath the water and swim way in their

Freedom into th' open sea. The former

Crew of th' ship, still unaware of Tomus,

Kicked unto the water, clenched with

Floating debris under arms to aid their

Long journey back to the land. Darkening

Black clouds rolled through the sky, thundering

As they went. Tomus swam back toward the

Nearest shore as the sky seemed to fall from

Day to night. Zeus awaited for Tomus

Where he emerged from th' water.

             Tomus

Knew the business of Zeus and believed in

The right of his own actions against Him.

Words were made to defend his actions though

Zeus would not hear, for within His ears the

Voice of Tomus was deluted with the

Bias of His defiance; and before the

Clear of his point be made Zeus pounded His

Attack unto the drums of his ears.

           "Thy

Divine air speaks vainly for my care of

Thy reason. Lo! To breathe th' air of th' divine,-

Well this, all to better my pleasure of

Your pain. Damned ye thy soul beyond th' hells of

Avernus for th' crime of thine attempt to

sway th' ritual for my worship.”

   "Let thy

passion for th' sea be th' purification

For thy defiance.  Breathe deeply the air

For in thy suffering thou shalt beg to

Recall the memory of this blessing.

Look unto the skies, birds, and trees; for by

The haunting darkness upon the ocean's

Floor, the salt water shall burn thine eyes of

Any such beauty. May light shine unto

Thee in only thy dreams for never shall

Thy begging eyes bless upon them ever

Again.”

       "Entombed in a hell by that

Which you love, let this be forever thy

Suffering."

            Zeus ordered Erebus

And Kratos to carry out His sentence.

Unto a raft made of stone Tomus was

Shackled by th` chains of Hephaestus (for who

Else could forge th` chains of such strength?). They carried

The stone raft to the middle of th' ocean

And dropped Tomus into the water.

The water could not resist the weight of

The rocks and pulled Tomus with the raft

To the bottom of the sea; so far down

To escape th' light of even the brightest

Sun. The blackening weight  of  the ocean

Pushed coldly down around him. The air

Within his lungs were exhausted. Tomus'

Eyes widened in panic and his

Muscles constricted. Tomus couldn't resist

His aching lungs as he gasped away

His last breath of air and swallowed in

Drowning violence the ocean water

Into his lungs; though immortal is he,

So never shall he die. I ask you, to

Drown forever, could one ever learn to

Endure a torture such as this?

                Alas,

It was many years before Tomus would

Be reliev`d of his suffering; many

Years of drowning in the cold darkness of th`

Ocean`s bottom. Th` familiar soft rumble

That echo`d through the water suddenly hid

Behind a mysterious voice. Th` voice spoke

So clearly twas as if magically th`

Words were placed straight into his mind. To

Respond Tomus tried (though could not speak through

The water; in the stead spoke with his mind

In question, "Who is there?”

                                               "I was asked

To find you an` implore this trade. She who hath

Sent me hath said you shall have no need for

Thy immortality, for still you shall

Live forever. My need is genuine

And deserving, this I assure you; to

Live full in th' love of a woman who is

Divine though I am not. ln exchange for

Such a generous gift I shall grant thee

Freedom from your chains, to make fair this trade;

To speak straight unto the minds of others;

Though `tis limited only to the reach

of thine own eyes. `Tis merely a passing

Of a gift through me, it is not my own,

For I am a human and have not the

Capacity to own such power.

              "A

Simple nod will make it so. Dost thou wish

To make this trade?"

                                  Tomus nodded in thanks

and the chains fell into th` sand. Tomus

Thrashed with all his strength toward the surface

Of the water. O to breathe again! He

Broke the surface of th` water so hard he

Lept completely into the air, forcing th`

Biting salt water from his tortur`d lungs

Tomus Inhaled the sweet tropic air. 

The air was fresh, the air was his , and now

Tomus was free.

                             These stories of Tomus

I have told to thee so thou might better

Understand these events that follow, so

Now I continue.

 

Book VIII

Zeus confronts Tomus

 

                              Tomus stood before

Zeus as death laid with th` bull and Sacrifice.

Spite and Aporius lay quiet behind

A rock, soothed by the peace giving name

Of Tomus.

                  Zeus, angered by the sway

Of His intention, questions Tomus of

His part in this defiance. Th` Thundergod`s

Voice weighed down the ears of Tomus as

If even His words had strength in it. “I

See you have made well in your attempt to

Escape from your punishment. So be it,

Though dare to return an` repeat thine offense?

Small yet still my doubt may hold truth, so speak

Your business and may thee pray it not to

Be th` concern of this ill-ended affair.”

        Clouds of grey rolled fiercely across th` sky

As Tomus prepared to speak. He knew

Not of Zeus` affair an` so spoke arch-backed an`

Confident. In gesture his hands moved

To speak of the children.

      “In way toward

The shore I heard the cries of these children.

I turned to see whom from and why so

They cried, by it I saw the charge of this

Wild beast; So I act. The children live though

Slain is this caring woman; good in my

Guess to assume their mother.”

               Suddenly

Tomus` eyes dropped to th` ground, transfixed

To his mind rag`d an angry suspicion.

Well versed of the gods by the teachings

Of Prometheus, Tomus knew well the

Bull to be th` special beast of Zeus! Tomus`

Eyes lifted to meet th` eyes of Zeus

And then voiced out th` anger that

Whelmed within him. “Remember do I th`

Manner of your ways, twas you who sent this

Beast! Explain in all your divine wisdom

The reason for this murder! Explain to

These children to ease th` suffering of their

Knowing years this heavenly plan that claim`d

Their mother.”

                           Zeus thundered back, “Blast you

To judge my action with such arrogance

When more clear is thine own arrogance in

Thy hippocrite spill. O judge of divine

Who is divine part himself, though now I

Sense a weakness of thy divinity.

Has your human half taken greater claim

Of thee? (Zeus laughs.) Aye, then to explain thy

Resentment for never can you be that

Which you envy.”

                              “You spit at me to know

Of my dealings with not even a clue.

Sacrifice`s death was not of my will, I

Commanded she be free from harm. Take the

Folly of her death unto thyself for

Thine interference in this affair. Still

So, she is of her own will. Duty be

It of her own to take action against

Her own harm. I am Zeus, the highest and 

Wisest, there is no one greater than I

To caoncern myself, and certainly need

Not justify my actions to you, nor

Need any of the gods.”

    Tomus cared

No longer for what might become his fate.

His resentment against Zeus could not be

Restrained and attacked th` words which bit

His shaking fury. “What is this greatness

Of a god which makes him so? The power

To make whatever his will? Certainly

It is not courage, then perhaps it is

Arrogance! For it is man that is with

Courage, armed with only his wits he

Is forced against all his consequence

And circumstance. You! You run from th` challenge

Like a coward. Why burden one`s self when

One can wish it away. You create and

Then destroy in poor reason and absent

Thy concern to those whom you harm. What great

Glory is it to live as divine when

One must live without heart!”

               Zeus` savage glare

Grew darker in th` blasphemy of Tomus`

Words. Merciful was the Thundergod in  

His curse upon him for Tomus` life would

Still be spared; though clear was the threat of

Zeus` declare. These chilling words Zeus doth speak,

“Passion abound spills from thy lip and

Hath choked thy throat from spilling again.

Without restraint from mind to tongue thou

Hath brought famine to seize thy passion from

Thy lips. When again thy passion whelms in

Rise to express then shall it delute thy

Mind to forget th` use of thy tongue.”

                            “Go

With haste out from my sight. If next we meet

It shall be our last, for I shall take thee

And shackle thy limbs to four great stede an`

By snaps of leather whips send them in fierce

Gallop in four different directions.

May Death come unto thee so slow as to

Savor thy pain and then tear thy soul from

Thy broken body, dragging it through the

Dirt and the fires of Avernus to

Hurl it unto the deepest pit of hell.

Go!”

          Now unto Spite an` Aprius, if

So to be kept alive as unknowing

Slaves for th` rest of one`s years be it any

Mercy then mercy it is unto the

Lives of the infant brothers Zeus doth show.

 

Book IX

Tomus flees

 

        Tomus took seriously th` threat of

Zeus and took journey across th` sea to a

Secret isle inhabited by sea nymphs.

His whereabouts were protected by th` Lord

Of the Sea. Poseidon cautioned the

Fish and sea nymphs against revealing the

Hiding isle of Tomus. A level of

Respect rose for Tomus in the display

That sway`d th` hunters sent by Zeus. Frequently

 Upon that quiet isle Tomus often

Broke bread with the sea nymphs. By day Tomus

Gathered his food from th` sea an` forag`d

The woods to supply his needs; though twas the

Night which shall bring rise to thy intrigue,

For where lie his thoughts in so blank a stare

That inspir`d him to play so beautifully

Upon his flute (carv`d from th` horn pull`d

Victoriously from the slain bull of

Zeus,)? His music embraced sentiments

Of love, sorrow, longing and contemptment-

Emotions of most unlikely pairs seem`d

To fill each note so harmoniously

How wondrous a melody to soothe all

Those whose earsr were blessed to receive it.

        Tomus played his song to the moon as

If within its glow lie his audience

And inspiration. Over the moonlit

Waters the soft breeze would carry forth his

Song drawing closer to its air those in

Hint by the luring sound. O bless thy luck

To observe his art upon the gentle

Rains, `tis a dance within the rythmic taps

Where his song mingles within the falling

Drops.

            When upon last th` final note was play`d

Vacantly Tomus would stare unto th` moon

As if with his song his soul had follow`d.

As now I look back `tis obvious why;

It was a song in search of its urging

Ambition, for still part human is he

To claim a soul, one harboring torment

Of a baiting emptiness. He knew not

Of what made him feel such failing so deep

Within himself. Perhaps an inkling spoke

Of rejoice in th` oneness of his wanting 

Soul. In hush of this beclouded whisper

Aired softly a greatness to inspire

His melodius song, an` so he played.

        Here for many years Tomus resided.

Keep even still to thyself for others

To protect, twas the beautiful isle of

The hibibcus where he calleth his

Home.

            Now I return to what then becometh

The fallen queen.

 

Book X

the struggle of June

 

                           The spells brought unto June

By the prayers of the twin brothers Spite

And Aporius had made impossible

Living in common society. “The

Witch of flaming tongue that devours the hearts

Of men.” repeated unto the tired ears

Of June. Her choices were left without in

Fleeing from those cruel yet blaeless words, else

Become th` hunt to those who by it call. So

June an` (always in company) Atropus

Hid in residence outside their aware. Th`

Years that followed were sure and steadfast

In misery. The grand love within June`s

Dream of the carnation was there, still to

Remain. She learned to accept her dream

As a thought in the breeze that by its warmth

Brings rise to hope, then with the dispassion of

Its sway blows on with th` wind. She returned

True of her senses, though warm is hope for

A doubted dream.

                              O what the life? Though she

Could not succumb to implore her husband`s

Forgiveness. For how she? How may one find

Dignity in declaring remorse for

Refusing a love that even itself

Is without; as is a shadow without

Substance or as darkness is without light?

How ever painful th` struggle He creates

She would never submit. Might well in all th` same

Cast His jealous anger to th` empty air,

No matter His wanted fitting th` reply

Would be of the same, for that none at all.

        The tears exhausted themselves within the

 Passing years, she learned to forget

Again their reason, hidden away with th`

Lost memories of her secret garden;

Though still one could wonder, for on the fall

Of night upon the eve of each changing

Year June would stare strangely up to th` crescent

Moon, swaying so slowly, so gently with th`

Breeze. Th` soft watch of her eyes would pan to the

Countless stars that would hide and reappear from

Behind th` passing of an occassional

Cloud. One could swear to her smile, though to be

So subtle to keep one with guess.

 

Book XI

message from Atropus

                  

                    Round go

Round th` spindle of Fate, its wheel in motion

At th` skilled aged hands of the mother   

Of Fates, Necessity. Duty of its

Spin through eight whorls is pierced the fabric

Of man. Whorl within whorl through its center

Lie stem an` hook. Its outer whorl broadest then

Each next to narrow. The largest spangled

Of the stars afixed the brightest in set is

The sun. Next lie the moon its reflect from th`

Sun , then Jupiter so white. Mercury

And Saturn of yellowish glow, between

Art Mars in red next to Venus th` whitest.

One with another, th` spindle doth move

Together an` swift in common direction.

To each man his own needle for each fate

Is different. The needle by which may

Determine his fate sewn with thorn or steel

For strength; though common tool the arrows of

Eros. From arrows of passion, from lust

To love determin`d by whim she selects

Her tool an` pattern of design.

                 Necessity

Sat and spun its wheel, each day unchanging

Of her duty. The breeze blew through th` open

Shade which part from eyes her silver hair. The

Open window invited a pigeon

Which perched itself upon th` sill, drawing

The eyes of Necessity. She noted

A piece of paper tied with twine to the

Leg of the pigeon. Twas a mesage from

Atropus. Necessity untied it

From the pigeon`s leg and read: “Dear mother

Necessity, I am well. The curse of

Zeus upon me hath been lifted for His

Will hath been fulfilled. I am free; it

Is for this I write, for I reside on th`

Secret Isle of Cybele and request

Method for my return. The pearl of th` vast

Pacific is protected from reach by

A great whirlpool. Be wise in thy careful

Journey. I shall be in anxious wait for

Thy arrival. Your daughter, Atropus.”

              

Book XII

island of Cybele

 

        O how nature smiles proudly unto the

Sacred isle of Cybele. Born many

Years ago from what is now, a deaden`d

Volcano. Its emerald green mountains

Reach their peaks in mingling with the clouds there

So high above. Fragrant mist of Summer`s

Air nurse lush tropic gardens that fill its

Valleys with copious flowers and palms

Of coco. From morning showers onto

Mountainous crater spills freshwater falls

Into rocky pools. Surrounding th` island

Glow the white sands that softly wade to the

Ocean blue. A myriad of life dwell

Land and sea, exotic and common no

Bias of breed; no bias though except

The presence of man for Cybele is

A refuge for women whom seek escape

From the riotous world, for whatever

Their reason.

                     Woe to man his ignorance

Prevail, for when he stepeth onto the

Sands of its shore, the sands which stand beneath

His feet shall give way to quickly devour

Him whole. Some say the mountains grew in this

Way, the piling bodies of foolish

Men that walked upon the sacred sands.

        Round th` isle th` currents move swift an` unchanged

Of its flow, there is no return once sail`d

Unto its shore. With long glass eye look far

To th` horizon unto th` sea surrounding

The island, th` ocean falls in violent

Whirl. By divine command of th` Earthshaker

The great creaures of the sea swim in great

Circle so this whirlpool to form; so large

To its end a mortal lifetime to reach

And so deep that I question if even

The ocean floor its violent motion

Is ceased. Created for those in lure

By Cybele`s misleading beauty, to

Sway their venture be it foolish or

Intrigue; perhaps such obstacle might

Save a man from his doom or a woman

From her own careless decision of haste.

        Of course like all other islands there are

Legends and stories of its beginnings;

Though this story I tell you is not of

Fiction but of true happenings. Where I

Now begin this story of Cybele

`Tis even before th` volcano erupt,

`Tis when the goddess Cybele, known to

All as Mother Earth, fell so tragically

In love with Attis, a shepherd, son of

Nana. Attis was ignorant of the

Great passion that filled so completely

The heart of Cybele, so then who could

Find blame as he prepared to marry th`

Love of his own find, a daughter of th` King

Of Pessinus. Cybele`s jealousy

Toward Attis` misguid`d love drove madness

To seize he an` the king, an` they in their frenzy

Slashed themselves in so brutal a

Display. Wellaway Attis fatal be

It his wounds. He laid in death beneath the

Pined tree (sacred was this made unto

Him). Still more tragic is this story to

Be for present was she, the object of

His love, th` victim of witness in

This violent affair and in her own

Open silent dispair slayed herself

To rest upon her dead love Attis and

From her blood which spilt to the ground purple

Violets bloom`d all aroun`.

        Cybele

Never meant for such horror to befall;

Though who else was to blame for th` death

In so vain this lover`s demise? O so

Alas this goddess. Overwhelmed with

Regret and painful dispair she buried

Together these lovers in woe and so

There grew a deciduous tree of pink

flowers and almonds. Twas their mixed blood

Of true love which brought root to this tree and

Tragedy to mind.

                             What lies in the mind

To be at fault for the death of thy own

Belov`d? What then if such love was not of

Thy own claim yet belonged to anoth`r

And they too were slain and thou was to blame?

Lo! To ravage true love in such a way

By thine own hands- So vile is this fatal

Sin unto such rare magnificence! O

How doth one shed such cavernous sorrow?

Cybele could not, her sorrow whelmed

Bitterness to a violent dispair.

        The earth made reply with a break in the

Ground beneath the sea and erupted with

The fire of her fury. Then soon from the

Ocean`s surface the volcano roared

Free in an aerial sea of fire, the

Genesis of the wondrous isle. Upon th`

Silence of th` fiery mountain Cybele

Stood atop its peak and cried out to the

Sky, “Hear me O gods! It is I Mother

Earth upon the isle of my bitterness

And desecrated love, Ive bear thee the

Land forbidden to man.”

    “Pandora and

Thy descendants I call unto thee to

Damn this isle against th` wickedness of men.

This love hath curs`d me with th` abandonment

Of my heart. Wicked is th` love that litters

For men and bleeds the lonely heart from those

Unrequit`d. Pandora I pray, exalt

This isle of Cybele a sanctum for

Women from men`s vile seed.”

                “Daughter of Nyx

I now call unto thee to take in thy

Pleasure th` art of thy genius. Punisher

Of heartless lovers, unto the suitor

Upon thereafter woe he searches for

She with confidence in lies to soften

A heart, indulge in thy vengeance unto

Him; may the hungry sands swallow him whole,

For this to repent the pain that doth brand

A broken heart.” From those call`d upon to

Extend their trade thus did so they offer.

So goes the dark legend of Cybele.

 

Book XIII

Necessity seeks Poseidon

 

        Now Necessity knew the island well

with a crooked amusement. Those fates of

Many men were sewn into the sands by

Her spindle. Whether desire seized their

Soul to repent his sins to an estrang`d

Love or he dar`d to indugle in th` spoils

From a paradise of women, twas but

A needle an` a stitch that sealed their fate.

Lo! Shall I not forget the wicked smile

That doth accompany for the pleasure

And pride in her creative art. Resist

To surmise that Necessity doth act

In prejudice for women too hath fall`n

Prey. Hath e`er thee answered the call of

Thy whim? So too hath those upon th` blanket

Of Fates.

                  Upon reading the message sent

By Atropus, Necessity sought the

Lord of the sea Poseidon, to seek his aid

For safe passage across his knigdom. She

Stood at the shore at foot of the sea and

Called out unto him, “Trident bearing

Poseidon I pray. I Necessity,

Mother of Fates require thy permission

For safe passage through thy kingdom to the

Forbidden isle of Cybele. For this

I give thee splendor of even greater

Enchantment unto thy Rule. I implore

Thee answer.”

                           Eager air of celestial

Desire pierced by th` trident from Ocean`s

Empire th` disciplin`d ocean joyously

Divides, th` thrown`d Poseidon gracefully

Arises and speaks in voice as deep as th`

Ocean, “Feeble woman of perilous

Irreverence what business hath thou to

Demand such journey?”

    Necessity spoke

In way to advantage his response, “Please

Forgive my careless impiety in

This mother`s stress. My daughter, Atropus

Was enslaved by your godly brother,

He who wields the mighty thunderbolt. He

Exiled her onto the island of

Cybele. Forgive me Lord of Seas,

Protector of this sacred isle, I must

Impose upon thee the clear duty of

This mother.

                    Poseidon responds, “Tempting

Is thy plea for ripe is the season to

Bedevil my brother, still short be it

My concern; bait my interest or let

Thou be dimissed.”

                               “I dare not insult

Thee by imposing my wants without an

Offering. God of Waves imagine

Thee a sky in eloquence, in muted

Colors and multisense. A subtle dance

Of capricious colors that whelms the sky

In ovation to the day`s final hour.

Counter the dawn, unto thee I present

This grand eventide. Upon this display

Over thine ocean kingdom it shall reign an`

In its awe enchant any god whose eyes

Lay rest upon it. Even more grand is

My gift than th` rosy touch of Eos, for

In stormless skies I give thee a spectrum

Of enchantment that will inspire an` demand

Even greater admiration for thy

Kingdom.”

                 Towering o`er Necessity th`

Dark shadow of Poseidon consum`d her

As he lean`d closer with sinister

Curiosity. “What dares thy tongue to

Tease this fire when thou art claims mastery

Over my brother`s kingdom? Explain thine

Authority. If deceit is thy scheme

To seize thy advantage- beware, for when

Thy sentence is declared even Death

Shall fear and elude thy pain. Is th` genius

For thy magic fraud? Then thou hath taken

Me for a fool hence decreed thy sentence!”

        Necessity responds, “It is my wits

Not magic by such offering I may

Present; though if I am to explain my

Wits what use then am I if my wits be

Yours? To explain my wits then no longer

Is there magic, this I must protect else

I am powerless. This offering is

Genuine an` boasts no fraud; I am old not

A fool to try and fool any god.”

              Most

Amused, Poseidon rose tall before

Necesity and says, “Indeed your wits

For thou hath succeeded in eluding

My questions. So be it. Inquire th` sea nymph

Hazil, she`ll lead you to a mariner

A student of the seafaring titan

Prometheus; albeit thou must then

Persuade him thyself to take burden of

Thy quest.”

                  “Tend th` east harbor of Buhawi,

Thou shalt find thy ship. Thence to Cybele th`

Ocean channel shall bid thee safe passage.

Whence upon thy return present thy gift

In evince of thy good faith. Betray me

And thou shalt be lost in an earthless sea;

Erelong the madness shall consume thy wits.

Wilt thou accept?”

                                History twas made in

Necessity`s reply from which today

Was born the sunset. A wondrous marvel

Indeed. “I thank thee and shall accept thine

Offer.” Necessity replied. The white

Water which danced about the feet of

The Lord of Sea honored its duty

In violent impatience. Surrounding

Him, a mighty whirlpool grew from the sea

Floor and surged into the sky consuming

The Earthshaker and in that sudden fell

Into the sea. Poseidon was gone and

The violence was ceased.

 

Book XIV

discovery

 

       These years were

Kind to Tomus. Time bestowed many

Gifts. Maturity buried th` weaknesses

Of his youth. He grew quite strong an` equally

Wise. Tomus surpressed his godly strengths

In the stead sought the challenges of his

Humanity. Friendships were kept for their

kindness an` teachings. Prometheus, Themis

And (of course) the Muses held firm with his

Respect. The great heroes like Theseus,

Odysseus and Heracles too were

Held with great admiration- and there were

More; though his admiration sometimes lent

Hand to despair. O how he longed to

Become the admired.

                                 An idle day

Would surely find Tomus fishing the sea

From his favorite seat high upon th` cliffs

Twas there Necessity found him. Tomus

Turn`d in surprise to find this old woman

Upon the cliffs.

                              Necessity inquires,

“Forgive this intrusion in thy pleasur`d

Time. I am Necessity. I seek a

Mariner named Tomus, student of

Prometheus. Is he to whom I speak?”

        “I am he. Why dost thou inquire?”

              “I`m in

Need of a pilot to navigate my

Ship and I to the sacred island of

Cybele where my daughter awaits me

To bid her return.”

                                Tomus then question`d,

“Many pilots conveniently offer

Their trade within the harbor, what troubles

One for my services upon these cliffs?”

        “It`s by th` word of Poseidon himself that

You are whom I seek.”

     A look of surprise

Seized th` face of Tomus in his reply,

“Poseidon?”

                    Necessity explains, “A

Sea nymph nam`d Hazil told me Poseidon

Learned of thine act against th` sacrifice

Of his creatures many years ago and

Since held thee with respect-“ A smile hinted

The lips of Tomus as Necessity

Continued. “-In exchange for thy service

A generous reward I shall offer

Thee. `Tis the greatest gift to any man

Be it of human or godly descent.

`Tis the love of a woman; though none as

Plain as that. Wilt thou please assist this old

Woman?”

                   “Sent to me by the Lord of Waves,

How could I decline. Gladly therein I

Shall assist thee.”

                              Twas upon the wake of th`

Saffron-robed which sent away Tomus

And Necessity the following morn.

They collected their supplies in a town

Near Buhawi an` stocked against their two

month journey.

                      As promis`d in Buhawi`s

East harbor stood tall the sails of the ship

Buhay. No time was to waste as they cast

Off toward the ocean`s horizon with

The greatest an` whitest sails to be touched

By Aeolus, keeper of the wind. Tomus

Sailed lone the ship with the skill of four

Men. Inwardly smiling in th` pleasure of

His trade.

                   Every morn a calm blue ocean an`

Fair weather would welcome their ship. Every

Day Necessity would sit near the stern

Endlessly stitching onto an aras

With a golden needle. Twenty times th` sun

Had fallen into the sea. Finally

Tomus asked, “For twenty days I have

Watched you stitch tirelessly onto that

Cloth. Some colors I have never seen and

Others so familiar. What is this that

Keeps you with such attention and concern?”

        Necessity replied, “`Tis my gift to

You when upon our journey`s end. Pay it

No mind for let its entirety be

It the surprise.” In gratitude Tomus

Honored her request.

                                  Rot! Reveal I

To thee the evil concealed in the

Garb of her graciousness. The needle twas

A thorn veiled with gold. Necessity

Reveled with each stitch in th` genius of

Her subject, a declaration of war

Unto Tomus from the heavens.

                 Upon th`

Twenty-eighth day in th` distant horizon

Arose the great emerald mountains of

Cybele. Emerald as such by the

Word it defines. O th` ocean softly

Mingled with falling blues-royal, turqoise

And light aqua hues. Twas a tease upon

Each moment approached that deepen`d eyes`

Hunger in splendor of this feast. Behold!

This wonder that deceives thine own eyes; the

Sea yielded slowly unto the sun; nay,

Twas th` sands of purest white that mirrored

Such light and wreathed the magnificent

Island.

           Tomus dropped anchor as the

Ship neared the shallows. He assisted

Necessity into a skiff an` gently

Lowered it onto th` water. Tomus

Climbed down and boarded th` skiff. He rowed

Toward the island as Necessity

Spoke. “By divine law upon this isle you

Mustn`t set foot. Return to the ship an` await

My return. Forgive my abeyance lest

Thee forsake me an` strand me upon this isle.

Prithee, I know not where my daughter resides

Tend thy patience for erelong my return.”

        Disappointment whelmed within Tomus

In Necessity`s charge that thwarted his

Eagerness to explore the wild country.

Tomus watched in torment th` exotic

Bird that surveyed th` jungles an` flew away

With his envy. Wellaway. Therein to

His curiosity this must suffice.

        The skiff pushed into the white sand as

It beached onto th` shore. Necessity

Stepp`d out onto th` sand and disappeared

As she walked into the dense jungle.

Tomus disciplined his temptation and

Turned in heading toward the ship. As he

Rowed th` skiff through th` glassy water he could

See with ease the healthy coral, like a

City twas busy with th` activity

Of its dwellings. Clowns an` parrots, butterflies

And jellyfish, damsels an` angels all danc`d

Below. Lo! This backdrop of paradise.

Well too inviting for even he. His

Smile reflect`d in his eyes as suddenly

He lept into th` water as if to splash

Like th` breaching whale be it his intention.

Twas hours before Tomus finally row`d

Back to the ship. Quite refreshed he laid

To rest upon the deck soaking in the

Warmth of the afternoon sun.

                 It had been

Hours now since Necessity began her

Search for Atropus. Wandering eyes in

Tedious wait took much interest to

Necessity`s tapestry. Twas th` size of

A man; colors so fresh to mature thine

Eyes; textures as such to a blind man `tis

A poem. Pictures stitched to tell a

Story; twas clearly that of his own, though

Unknowable be it some. What says it

Of Zeus and His Queen illustrated in

Clear violence; or those of th` Queen pictur`d

In torment- how calls this a gift when such

Blasphemy it doth publish? Even more

Disturbing near th` tapestry`s end, greater

In size than all the rest twas a picture

Unfinish`d. Zounds! The image of gods and

War. Tomus grabbed the tapestry from

The spindle and rent his hand upon the

Needle. Lo! His blood fell and wove itself

Into the tapestry as though it were

Thread. Haunt! By his blood th` arras was finish`d.

Wellaway th` result in this ill-fated

Divination.

 

Book XV

dreams awake

                  

                           What more to do as the

Sun fell an` th` moon arose with soft assurance

For those laid in sleep. Early the next morn

Tomus ate his ration and climbed down

Onto the skiff. Twas curiosity

That filled his head as he rowed to

Explore the island`s outer banks, keeping

His promise to avoid the land.

                 Round its

Shores from ocean to jungle offered th`

Same splendor as first he had seen. Erelong

Merged th` mouth of a fantastic lagoon

Layed at th` foot of a tall cliff veiled

By an impressive waterfall. Th` mountain

Rains spilled majestically into a

Deep pool, twas surrounded with large rocks that

Divided the fresh water from the salt.

Tomus rowed closer to better view

The beauty of this natural wonder-

When suddenly he stopped.

        Tomus watch`d

As she rose from the water in a pool

At foot of the high cliff`s edge. Twas here she

Bathed. Round her curves the mountain rains pour`d.

Her fragrant skin like sweet perfume, so soft

To tease th` jealous water as it stumbl`d

To contend its inevitable fall.

Upon her shoulders compos`d in artful

Tracery lay her hair, like threads of wov`n

Shadow. Tomus froze, aggitated by

His eyes so bedimmed with enchantment

He scarcely knew how to proceed. By

His emotion he rose to call out though

No more than his breath a sound could he make.

Zounds! Th` malison of Zeus. Wellaway for

His tongue doth ignorance rule for how to

Speak Tomus could not recall. Natheless

Spoke to his mind, for in this gaze even

Death could not reave his eyes from her.  "Full of

Feeling am I as I look unto you."

June looked up, her attention to th` jungle.

"Why unto thee dost my heart run? "

                                                        June then

Looked around the rocks and called out,

"Who Is there?!"

                      Tomus heard an` tried again to

Call out. Still no word could he make, though to

His mind he exclaim`d, "I am Tomus! Please

Hear me. Lo!I can not speak!" Suddenly

She ran and disappeared into the

Jungle. To his observe fright had siez`d her.

O had he known this story would never

Be for behind the foliage June kept a

Keen watch. By th` reach of his eye to her mind

He doth speak, even if by her cover

She can not be seen. "Rot my tongue numbed

By this bliss, I yearn to impart this thwarted

Emotion. Then would you run from me? My

Dreams fain thou heed this tender feeling and 

Run to my embrace. A hundred times I

Kiss you. Why do I feel as if I know

You? Have we met before? Nay, for I would

Have remembered beauty such as this.

Why simply by these eyes dost my soul feel

Complete? As though before me stood th' genius

Of my music, the inspiration of

My love, and th' missing years of my life. My

Head is fill'd with words an' images in which

You an` I figure, with no one an' nothing

Else. 'Tis a magnificence beyond the 

Imagination that by only my

Emotions can I articulate, by

Only this device I may describe the

Undescribable, the wonder that is

You.

      Like a fool I have succumb to a

Childish fancy. She ran without seeing

My face hence to her I do not exist.

If thine eyes had stumbled upon me would

This ruling passion have seized thy heart

As it hath seized mine?"

                         June struggled

With herself to emerge from the brush to

Answer him but reluctant for the curse

Of the twins would reave this affection in

Dispair. By each word a tear was shed for

His tender sentiment; and each question

Was answer`d with th` fullest adoration

As with each was asked. By her thoughts she

Spoke with no one but herself to listen.

"Wellaway this dream that doth exist in

This auspicious hour and then must expire.

O for real is thy love, where doth cupid

Hide? Where lies the scar from his impaling

Arrow? Could this love be so pure, saved

From all godly interference? Is there

Love so real or do I recite only

Words of a poem, a lyric from my

Own lonely heart?

                    Tomus could not endure

This torment any longer and headed

Back toward the ship. Still the eyes of June

Remained devot'd to Tomus lest th' dream

Expire an' return to her th' anguish of her

Loneliness. Even upon returning

To the ship, repeatedly unto his

Mind swept th' vision of his unrelenting

Adoration. June spoke again unto

Herself, "Tomus, that name is so sweet on

My lips, O how I long to call unto

Thee and bring solace unto thy loving

Distress. I implore thee not to forsake

This feeling though alas, how can I? My

Throat choked with fire could publish nothing

But wretchedness unto this delicate

Occassion. For dispair we must forbear

This affection."

                 As th' day pass'd. Tomus sweat

In his distress that left him bewilder'd

Of any reasonable action. He

Wished so much to persue though alas,

Necessity's word made clear the dangers

Of his curiosity to explore th'

Island. His thoughts suddenly interrupt'd

As his eyes caught movement behind the brush.

From which emerged Necessity and

Atropus. June hid deeper behind the

Foliage. She surveyed with bother'd

Expression th' nature of Necessity's

Intention toward Tomus.

   Tomus rose

To his feet and set out aboard the skiff.

As he approached th` beach Necessity

Hint`d a sinstrous smile an` said, " Good eve Tomus,

I hope thy wait hadn't brought thee dismay. Soon

Thy reward shall be paid for thy service.

Now, please welcome my daughter Atropus."

Tomus replied as he assisted them

Onto the small boat, "Good eve Atropus,

Your mother hath come a long way. I am

Glad to see you both in good health." His eyes

Briefly surveyed the jungles before

Turning toward the ship.

                                              Tomus raised

The anchor and prepared the sails of

Buhay to depart. His eyes continu`d

To watch the island in hopes she would come

Forth. Necessity smiled in th` dolor

Of his heart and said, "We must depart. By

Order of Poseidon before night claims

The day unto the skies our offering

I must present. Forthright unto the sea

We must sail."

                 Necessity then stepped

To the bow and faced the open sea.

Amazed we watched the changing sky

As slowly the sun began to descend.

Only by devoted attention could

Its movement be seen. Flavescent orange

colors began to emerge overhead

As though a torch illuminated the

Sky that still gave way to the gentle blues.

The Scattered clouds were contoured in

Luminous gold as th` sun descent behind

Them. Iridescent colors continu`d

To bloom with softly deepening hues. Warm

Autumn colors lazily spilt over th`

Sky reflecting proudly from th` glistening

Water.

   Gods of heaven and Avernus

Alike were rul`d with curiosity

By the lavish display. Hemera and

Nyx (of th` day an` night) stood with awe; Helios

With pride, as the sun took center of this

Unprecedented hour. Eos, Goddess

Of Dawn would soon bow to the grandeur of

The spectacle that continued to

Enchant the gods. Poseidon was pleased

With th` offering. Lo! Twas a sight.

                                 Tomus

Stood at th` stern, heedless of th` miraculous

Display; for twas upon th` isle that conceal`d

Truly inimitable beauty and

His eyes could not forsake the search for his

Heart's affection. The wind seized the great

Sails that heaved the ship toward th` ocean's

Horizon. Tomus removed th` carved

Flute from his shirt and solemnly lifted

It unto his lips an` played in lament

A most haunting melody. The notes roll`d

over the water with an amorous

Tumble and wept over the island. Th` notes

Rain`d over June whose eyes widened in

Strange familiarity as though by

A warm touch had awaken this solemn

Statue. She said unto herself, “Marry!

This song doth come from my own lips and soar

To the moon then by woeful weight of it`s

Fervid emotion fall back onto me.

How could this be?” June look`d onto Tomus

As he played his song upon th` ship, a

Soft mist rose from th` sea as a roseate

Glow fell over the orange-flamed sky.

June observed the scarlet backdrop as

Tomus stood with th` mist about him.

        Marry

in this sweet revelation, for he who

Once stood in the garden of her dreams now

Stood upon th` ship before her.  She lept out

From th` brush an` stood in clear sight then just before

Helios bless`d last his color, before

Silhouettes and shadows merge their eyes of

Common shade met upon each other. Nay,

Twas an embrace, one impossible to

Release. O love sincere that whelmed those

Eyes. Blast! The sudden flash that bit her eyes

As the sun descent behind Tomus and

The ship. Her blindness from the refulgent

Sun tempered in its perpetual

Descent; Though what mercy cometh in that

Relief for Tomus was consumed in

A painful silhouette. Erelong his form

And shadows merged as the ship sailed

Deeper into the horizon. Lo! To

Each this tragedy doth despair for both

Lovers were lost in a veil of shadows.

Ah how Tomus tried to look back onto

The shore of his beloved still nothing

Could be found within th` island`s silhouette.

A deepened violet filled the sky in its final display as the sun

Descent beneath th` sea and th` night consumed

The day.

 

 

 

                                       … to be continued .