pastel monarch butterflies flowed out of the lily pad as if by magic
explosion of a kaleidoscope of colors, mostly lavenders and pinks
heralding the unexpected but delightful return of the Goddess Athena.
Athena had not graced Earth for four thousand and thirty-one years.
reverant admiring azure sky turned coral and pink in her honor
animals and bugs in the meadows and forests stopped moving
Listening for the sound of wings, a flute or a harp
Athena arrived straddling two pure white unicorns with silver wings
Athenians were losing to the Persians led by Xerxes one.
but Athena came along, and spoiled that militant’s fun.
she helped the Greeks defeat them, and they ran away.
goddess of wisdom, justice, and war simply does not play.
she enhanced the wisdom, skill and courage of every soldier.
her practical knowledge and fairness is unselfish and pure.
born from Zeus’s head, with her owl power animal at her side.
enthuses Athenians who built Parthenon with her statue inside.
Goddess Athena is the guardian of Athens, the soothsayer said.
She is high-born in mythology, and exceedingly well-bred.
She has been protecting the citizens in a variety of ways.
And will be forever, until the end of all of our days.
Athena heard the soothsayer and rewarded her with money.
She also sent her barley, gemstones, wheat, rice, and honey.
The soothsayer sang Athena’s praises for the rest of her life.
With Athena around, Athens did not undergo very much strife.
Almost alive with light
Always wise and vibrant
Assured of grace and love
After the whole heart smiles
Amazed with such kind hope
Approving of great peace
Ancient god of wisdom
Greek mythology Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Joseph May
Used Howmanysyllables.com
March 6, 2022
ATHENA
Appears a deity.
Asserting intellect.
Affirms truth and knowledge.
And strong morality.
Always offers wisdom.
Also accomplishments.
Athena Greek Goddess.
03/03/22
Greek Mythology
Second place
Contest by Joseph May.
2022 poetry Marathon Mile 15
Contest by Mark Toney
A bold warrior goddess
Aided Odysseus
As he murdered Trojans
Adjusts Medusa to
A scary Gorgon, FREEZE
Aptly spins perfect web
Arachne can’t surpass.
2.22.22
Used Poetry Soup Syllable Counter
A Greek 'god' of wisdom
Athens' patron goddess.
Acts chapter seventeen
Apostle Paul teaches
All should repent to God
And to stop worshiping
Any man-made idols
Athena
A Goddess unlike yours
Athena, a woman
An intellectual
A child of Zeus, The God
A Goddess of all War
A bird, owl, or a snake
Athena is them all
2/21/22
Syllable Counter: howmanysyllables.com
Every night it's always the same,
Fog rolling in on the lake.
Full moon, wolves howling,
Shadows from the trees as the wind blows,
I see an owl staring at me.
Thunder, Lightning, hearing voices,
Warning me of what is yet to come.
Beware others are here and,
They are coming.
The last thing I see is a lady in white,
Rising out of the lake holding,
The Sword of Athena thrusting it high.
Lightning hits the sword it starts,
Glowing with fire as the lady hands,
My sword to me as she lowers back,
Into the lake.
She glances telling me your time is near,
Athena, the war is coming,
My Queen, you have to be ready.
The thunder awakes,
Me from my stupor.
I see visions of the past.
As I open my eyes,
I see Zeus, Aphrodite, and Ares,
Standing before me,
My father, my sister, and my brother.
Today is different; there is an owl
Outside my window.
Things are changing.
I believe, and I feel the urgency,
Therefore I must be ready.
The storm is approaching.
I look at the sword with tears in my eyes,
Not believing what I am seeing,
Hearing Zeus tell me, "He wanted you to have it.
The Lady in the lake kept it for you until now."
I can only say one word "Excalibur."
ATHENA IN THE AFTERNOON
We drove the high edge of the valley,
late summer lush green, the cobalt sky
a passing cold front with lightning and
rain threatening our day
“It’s beautiful!” I said
“Yes!” she replied like a lazy idea in red
thong sandals, dark blue jeans, a man’s
oversize shirt, her curly black hair an
elegant chaos from an ancient Greek vase
I mentioned the sky, she reached for her
purse, applied color to her face
“Yes, Honey” she said as she painted her
lips red with a narrow black brush
I said “You don’t even know…….
“Not now” she said, her black-rimmed
glasses reflecting the valley, the deepening
sky, the depth in her eyes
“Honey”, she said, “we’ll crash for sure
if you don’t watch the road and I’m really
not pretty, I just am what I am until you
look at me, then…I am….your love”
The lightning flashed twice, caught the
red ribbon in her hair
She drew a sudden breath….and leaned
closer to me
Painting with words,
sculpting with sound
Letters to dance
—spoken aloud
(Dreamsleep: February, 2020)
Dear! Broken is the heart
if nature not adored
and if zip-splashed colors
upon tender Spring petals
does not soften the Soul!
And brevity like sudden
delight pleases reading
eyes!
:: 08-06-2018 ::
How sweet is my girl Joan whom I adore.
Much like an ancient goddess handed me
then by Zeus great god known from ancient lore.
This my Athena, choicest maid that be.
To my heart's closed door she now holds the key.
All I have I give free on low bended knee.
This my love I have laid before your throne
A source for thy well being my dear Joan.
Beauty!a major gift to her.
Swift in swords art,
A lover of wisdom,
A heart stronger than steel
The sight of her beautiful city
Laid wake all night
Giving thanks to their
Beautiful patron goddess
The sight of athens
Was nearly as beautiful as athena
With the owl as her symbol
Of peace and justice.
Athena!a beautiful and
Wise warrior princess
The pride of Olympus
Athena!the heart of her father
Her beauty knew no mother
She was talented like no other
Her vast rule knew no border
She was bathed with gold
And rays of sunshine.
Her love for wisdom made
her unique in a godly way
With her sword of wisdom on
Her right hand and a shield
Of experience on the left,
She led her people to war
And always came back victorious
Athens was the pride of greece
Gifted with great men...
of great many talents.
It all leads back to her
The patron goddess athena
She ruled with peace and justice
Her uniqueness revealed itself
In many ways.....Of all on
Olympus,she was singled out
As the wisest and bravest
To have ever lived.
You fill cavities in me I never knew were there
Like you dug inside and wildly bloomed
I felt your inviting light invade the sleep
‘Til I was jarred, shorn up, and doomed
I still think somehow I will I saturate you, too
When he doesn’t love you the way that I do
When I sleepwalk and find myself in you
I watch you late night when you dance to infinity
With a fire I wish you’d feel for me
Brimming and beautiful and ineffably free
As though you and I were meant to be
I sleep for days to shake you off
I see you out and nostalgically stop
I watch you blush as I plainly stare
You laugh and go on unaware
but
how
you
bleed
through the mind-numbingly empty
And blunt humdrum liars and sickening travesty
I pick you out of the crowd with such fluttering ease
You stick out like the moon through the autumn trees
Sometimes you smile as you watch me pass by
But I am letting you go, this time, this night
I am nothing against your backdrop of sky,
A shadow within your celestial light.
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