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Me Too, B.C.
“Beauty provokes harassment, the law says, but it
looks through men’s eyes while deciding.”
--Naomi Wolof.
Governor Andrew Cuomo
is the latest of powerful men
who take advantage
of young women within his sphere.
Eleven of them have come forward
to hold his feet to the fire.
But that would not have
bothered Hades much,
who has lava slippers
and a flaming robe.
His once pale skin
from when he lounged
in the court of Zeus,
was molten red now,
permanently singed.
His carnal lusts
have made him
grow long horns.
Even before his banishment,
he had his eye on his comely niece,
Persephone, who had blossomed
a lovely ginger lassie. Finally
his lust consumed him,
and he emerged from the underworld.
Persephone glanced up
from her gardening:
“Oh hi, Uncle Haddy...long time no see.”
Hades: Damn, you have become the most
beautiful woman I have ever seen.
Persephone: Why thank you, Unk--you
make me blush like a school girl.
Hades: I must have you.
Persephone: Now wait a minute. First off we’re
family, and Daddy may have something to say
about this situation.
Hades: Fuck my brother, grabbing her roughly
my the arm; Zeus can visit Hell if he wants to
talk to me. He’s the King of Nothing down there.
She screamed as he tore her dress and dragged
her into his cave. Zeus, after a time did intervene,
but in typical Male fashion he partially blamed
his daughter for her predicament. His decree was
unfair. He decided that she would spend six months
in the underworld, and six months on earth--thus
creating the seasons. Persephone was just
another young woman complaining about her
treatment by men, not listened to, and not
believed.
Glenn Buttkus
Posted over at d'Verse Poet's Pub
9 comments:
Isn't it sick and sad how the myth still caries relevancy into modern times this way? Many people in power are corrupted and perverted, using their puissance to take advantage of those who would be hard to believe if they spoke out against them.
The common thread in each poem today shows how much men had control over women, and the myth shows it as well. You depict this matter disturbingly, brilliantly, and remarkably. Always enjoy your work, Glenn. I love the feelings it conjures up.
Glenn, **THANK YOU** for speaking out as a man against these practices. It should be commonplace for decent men to speak out against the exploitation, coercion, and blaming of the victims of the lechers and those males who use them as devices of control over females. What always astonishes me is that every single man has a mother and probably several other female relatives they care about, yet they remain mute when they see these vile practices carried out.
First hearing of Cuomo and his vileness. :::GAG:::
Ah, yes - thank you for highlighting this. It does read as a tale of abuse to me. I wonder if it was meant to be read that way even then. I don't doubt that such abuses were commonplace.
As you've demonstrated, Glenn--an age-old story.
I really enjoyed the dialogue section in particular, Glenn... that was inspired!
Yours,
David
I have to admit the story leaves me quite aggravated with Persephone for not kicking Uncle Lecher in the danglies and flouncing off in the garden!!!
From one man to another who gets it and to women everywhere, we value and support our mothers, partners, sisters and daughters' independence such that they should always be empowered to make and action their own informed choices.
Unfortunately it's the same in the East as well, no sooner does a woman get assaulted by a man, fifty people stand up to judge her claiming she provoked the other with her good looks or choice of attire. It's so ridiculous. Are they implying that clothes be labelled too? A most epic, strong and poignant poem, Glenn! Kudos to you 💝💝
So powerful in its timeliness!
"But that would not have
bothered Hades much,
who has lava slippers
and a flaming robe.'
Wonderful description in these words. "Ginger lassie" -- yes. (Wierd, I know, but this sounds like it should be the name of an alcoholic drink! I'll have a Ginger Lassie, please!) SADLY in this myth... there was no asking..only the taking.
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