Greek History and Mythology
A couple of years ago a new piece was added to the second grade curriculum in our school district. It was part of the listening and learning component and it was about Greek history and mythology. At first I thought it would be beyond the interest and understanding of the typical 7 year old but I soon found out how mistaken I was! The kids ate it up! And the more I learned myself the more I wanted to know. I bought books, watched videos and learned tons of interesting things about ancient Greek culture.
Of course, being forever the humor writer, this new infatuation has provided lots of new material for my poetry writing. I've written a slew of new poems and have produced a number of videos based on many of those poems. It is still a work in progress but I'm here to share some of what I have done so far. I'll start off with one of my Minotaur poems!
(If the videos don't appear or give you trouble, try clicking 'refresh'.)
Minotaur
Behold, the fearsome Minotaur,
a most abhorrent beast
who warmly welcomes visitors
upon whom he can feast.
A truly loathsome creature
of hideous design;
the body of a human
and a head that is bovine.
A miserable prisoner
trapped within a dismal maze,
with rats his lone companions
which has left him slightly crazed.
But he’ll eagerly receive you
since he’s really quite benign.
Just bring a youthful sacrifice
on whom he can dine.
Alas, the lowly Minotaur,
a brute unjustly dreaded.
He’s not as bad as people say,
though he is a bit bullheaded.
I have also had the pleasure in working with my young friends in the creation of posters depicting the main gods. The pantheon is now complete! See the video compilation below for more exciting stuff!
Greek history has also provided material for some of my poems.
And now for MEDUSA!
Medusa’s 'Do'
When Medusa wakes each morn
and peers at her reflection,
I wonder if she’s horrified
by her hairdo and complexion.
After all…
she really needn’t bother with
conditioners and shampoos.
All she needs are frogs and mice
to maintain her fancy ‘do’.
But despite her tragic makeover
she cannot overlook
that she still has a slender build
and has kept her killer looks.
Though she’s doomed to be alone
just like a vicious barracuda,
she has a solid style and charm.
Oh, how I’m jealous of Medusa!
Medusa’s 'Do'
When Medusa wakes each morn
and peers at her reflection,
I wonder if she’s horrified
by her hairdo and complexion.
After all…
she really needn’t bother with
conditioners and shampoos.
All she needs are frogs and mice
to maintain her fancy ‘do’.
But despite her tragic makeover
she cannot overlook
that she still has a slender build
and has kept her killer looks.
Though she’s doomed to be alone
just like a vicious barracuda,
she has a solid style and charm.
Oh, how I’m jealous of Medusa!
And yet more of my Greek themed poems. Enjoy! Hermes’ Lament
Curse the blasted internet text-messaging and blogs! Since this nonsense came along I’m ignored by fellow gods. I used to carry messages to and from Olympus, but along came this technology and ‘BAM!’ I’m out of business! Now I’m forlorn and forgotten, like a rusty old antique. Even old reliable Zeus has become a techno-Greek! My new job is undignified and I’m not the least bit pleased. I travel back and forth all day delivering pizza and Chinese! Cerberus A pet would be an awful fuss if you owned a dog like Cerberus. Your mom might scream and fall down dead if she saw a dog which had 3 heads. When it was hungry or had a thirst which one head would you serve first? Furthermore, when given lunch would it eat three times as much? And when time came for you to scoop, would there be three times the poop? Consider this and use your head… settle for a cat instead! |
Medusa’s Head I’ve slain the gruesome gorgon and returned with just her head. But what will be the fate of Medusa’s moldering pate since now the fiend is dead? There’s really nowhere to display this ghastly nob of gore. The only place at home for this decomposing dome is with the Halloween décor. I thought that I would plant it in the garden out in back. Although her crumbling cranium would fertilize geraniums it’d give my mom a heart attack. It would likely feel more like home concealed in the garage! I could hang the heinous noggin right next to my toboggan amidst junk for camouflage. I’m hatching yet another plan, a much more apt proposal. Her putrefying brain could go gurgling down the drain when I run the trash disposal. Wait! I’ve got a better way to dispose of all this stress. If I post it on Ebay I could sell it right away. I’ve got a head for business! |
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Son of Poseidon
I am Poseidon’s progeny, sovereign of the seas, master of the mollusks and each sea anemone. I’m commander of crustaceans, oysters, shrimp and squid. Over oceans wide I shall preside for I’m Poseidon’s kid! But when I raise my trident to make a bold decree, I tremble like a jellyfish and get the urge to flee. I’m mortified by octopi, catfish make me quiver. Each crab and krill gives me a chill, and sharks give me the shivers! Dolphins cause discomfort, minnows make me manic, barracudas are unbearable, each porpoise creates panic! Turtles make me timid, I shy away from seals. I’m clearly neurotic near things aquatic be it clownfish, cod or eels. Lobsters make me leery and I fear all things with fins, so I feel more like a flounder than Poseidon’s next of kin! And though I am the offspring of a mighty deity, I’ll never reign in this wet terrain since I’m just Chicken of the Sea! |
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