aching sky -
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This is a picture of Jupiter (Jove) and two of its moons, Callisto and Io.
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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.
Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden | Year Posted 2018
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