Aching Sky

I knelt amidst the mountain's rise, beneath the weeping opal skies, There to measure Io's swoon - the envy of each lesser moon ... Trembling like a gold doubloon, (Heaven's tinged and gilded prize). Great Jupiter, the Lord of All, filled the sky with amber pall, One reddened eye to consecrate the anguish of dear Io's fate, Years too soon, but eons late - shaking with a haggard wrawl ... Io, once resigned its doom, yet, an orb of ravished bloom, (Spurned as Zeus' paramour), shuddered to its carnal core, Wept, to mark Europa's door, the threshold to its fiery tomb. I, stood lone on Ganymede, minding Io's breaching bleed, As fissures split its relic face, a mocking veil of Guipure lace, Ceding ripe, its fall from grace - author of such caustic screed. Europa, in her jealous bend, paid scant mind to Io's rend, Jaundiced of Callisto's bough, negligent, would disavow ... Keen to hide her withered brow, skirting Jove to thus attend. In their haste to swift, depart, sundered Io's weary heart - Forces much too fierce to shun, imploring mercy, gaining none, Confident her time was done ... rattled death, then broke apart. As mine, the only sentient eyes attesting Io's bright demise - Not in want of tears to shed, spirit harrowed deep with dread, Felt some tribute should be said ... but managed only muted cries. It wrought such horrid irony, that Io's witness fell to me - A spurious and tragic fate, for I, at best, was second-rate At physics AND as potentate, and seemed such grand calamity ... And yet ... Blessed was I by honor, deep, that my eyes were there to weep, Thus, I vowed in prayer to write the awful beauty of that sight ... Io's death throes, bursting bright! Lord Zeus' lover ... laid to sleep. (The promise that ... I hereby keep). ~ 1st Place ~ in the "Completely Your Choice (44) Any Form Any Theme" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor. ~ Honorable Mention ~ in the "Your Choice (8), Any Form, Any Theme" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor. ~ 2nd Place ~ in the "2019 Poetry Marathon Mile 22" Poetry Contest, Mark Toney, Judge & Sponsor. ~ 4th Place ~ in the "Fiction - October 2018 Writing Challenge" Poetry Contest, Dear Heart aka Broken Wings, Judge & Sponsor.