Morpheus has no power
over Medusa's tresses;
these serpents writhe about me,
waiting to consume.
He made me his unwilling mistress
of the night
with tiny bites that sapped
my life.
Now I shun the sun—
can tolerate moon's light,
but my thirst is
impossible to sate.
This need not be my fate.
Oh love! Do not be misled;
come sit here by the bed
and stake my heart.
Allium sativa
is not enough;
Evil's made
of stronger stuff.
Kat Mortensen©2012
 |
| Original image by Christophe Gilbert (darkened for the purpose of this poem). |
This poem is in response to the above photo published at The Mag. Please click the link to find a world of excellent interpretations.
*It may be of interest to know that I am currently reading Bram Stoker's, "Dracula".
strong stuff indeed. Good read, enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteDracula...have not read in years. Need to revisit.
Thank you. I'm very glad you enjoyed it. I do encourage you to pick up the book again. This is my first venture into it, and I'm finding it a great read!
DeleteKat, nice and strong write. I enjoyed it !
ReplyDeleteThanks, ayala. I appreciate your comment.
DeleteVampires add an interesting perspective to the prompt. Although the idea is uniquely different, it is not misplaced here. Vampires fit beautifully. Your poem reads like an aria. It's lovely, Kat. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm not sure if I hadn't been reading Stoker, that I would have taken this approach, but you never know.
DeleteThanks for your generous comment, Linda.
evil is....nice write kat...been a while for me on the read as well but i still have my copy down stairs...
ReplyDeleteAlthough I was a big vampire-fan in my 20s, Brian, I had never read, "Dracula". I am really enjoying it.
Deletepowerful calling in your words, wow.
ReplyDeleteI'm very glad you liked it. Thanks.
Deletelove reading this.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm grateful for your comment.
DeleteThis really got me thinking! In particular, how vampire myths and the like are "scary" but are not about our victimhood in the face of evil, but about our ability to subdue evil, albeit after a struggle.
ReplyDeleteHope you're enjoying reading Dracula. I did. We live only 90 minutes drive from Whitby Abbey. And if you like crime fiction (or even if you're not fussed but like a good book anyway) have a go at Fred Vargas' An Uncertain Place. It has quite wonderful vampiric associations (and I'll say no more for fear of unleashing spoilers).
I rather like Allium Sativa.
Dominic, I shall definitely put that book on my "to-read" list. I DO like crime fiction, very much.
DeleteDo they get many "vampire-chasers" around Whitby Abbey? That's an area in England where I've never been. Perhaps one day, with my copy of "Dracula" in hand, I shall stroll through the churchyard. Hmm. Probably not.
I'm very glad this proved thought-provoking for you. Thanks.
I think tresses are a safe view- and actually I would rather that
ReplyDeleteand Myth; than my circling of the drain! thanks.
Safe, huh? Not these ones! I'll check out your drain-idea and see if I change my mind.
DeleteNot that snakes are safe.
DeleteNor is the act of being consumed, such as a predator might.
That is for sure!
DeleteI think you should be speaking to Andrew Lloyd Webber about the next musical extravaganza! Fine response to the prompt.
ReplyDeleteIsabel x
Ha! "The MISTRESS of the Night"?
DeleteMy first thought was of Medusa, too (went in a slightly different direction). This is wonderful. A thirst impossible to sate. Oh, yes. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I'm in the process of reading "Dracula" and was chilled this morning when I actually came upon a reference to Medusa in the book. It compared the Un-dead Lucy Westenra's forehead to the snakes. Weird eh?
DeleteGood Magpie. A true poem.
ReplyDeleteWhy, thank you, Doctor!
DeleteI started with Medusa and ended there? :) Yours is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'll have to read yours and see if we were on the same train of thought.
DeleteSo deep...a frightening chill runs through this.."and stake my heart"...brilliant!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lyn; this may be why I had trouble sleeping last night.
DeleteHe made me his unwilling mistress
ReplyDeleteof the night
with tiny bites that sapped
my life.
Mmmm... dark and deadly poem all through. Well done.
Thank you, Jinksy. Yup. Drac is pretty "dark and deadly", all right!
Deletesuch a delight to read this piece. the references, the retelling. thanks
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comment very much, Arian. Thank you.
DeleteNow I shun the sun—
ReplyDeletecan tolerate moon's light,
but my thirst is
impossible to sate.
This need not be my fate.
Powerful stuff, I thought - until I read those last two lines. Shivers were me!
Fantabulous!
Ha! Dave, it's amazing how what I read just seems to work through me. The shivers are all mine as I make my way through this fantastic book!
DeleteThank you.
Evil in person and it gave the creeps. Great write!
ReplyDeleteHank
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteDelicious Medusa/vampire combo!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tess! Great prompt!
Deleteyep can see the influence of Dracula in here
ReplyDeleteSo you should, Goofball. Read my poem "Ollala"; it has a classical reference as well.
Delete