Friday, July 15, 2005

Because even goddesses feel insecure...

Aphrodite’s Dilemma

Do you love me?
      I want to be loved for myself,
      not just because I’m a goddess,
      fairest of all creation.


Why do you love me?
      I need to know what drew you here.
      I bet it was my golden hair, the way
      it shimmer-shines a thousand suns. Or maybe
      my flawless face, more perfect than the arch
      of Athena’s eyebrow raised in pensive contemplation.


What makes you want me?
      Your passion springs forth at the sight
      of my firm, upturned breasts. Yes. It does.
      But then I notice you can’t keep your fingers
      from the golden girdle that encircles my fecund
      waist with a god’s jealous magic.


You want me because I’m beautiful, right?
      I know you think I’m beautiful. I am the goddess of love, after all.
      I know you want me. You leave offerings on my temple steps
      of incense, pomegranates, doves. You risk the wrath of Hephaestos
      to lie in my bed. I’m sure you’re not doing this
      to gain bragging rights, to boast of bagging
      the greatest beauty of all time.


You do think I’m beautiful, don’t you?

4 comments:

Bev Jackson said...

Interesting twist on beauty. Well done!

Matt said...

I like the way this builds to this last line. The way the goddess of beauty and love works herself up to this final desperate question made me think about how insecurity isn't just something we suffer; it's something we manufacture.

Sharon Hurlbut said...

Thanks Bev!

Sharon Hurlbut said...

Very perceptive, Matt! I think not only is insecurity something we manufacture, but something we've been taught to manufacture.