Saturday, January 22, 2011

Oenone

Oenone, in Greek mythology, a fountain nymph of Mount Ida, the daughter of the River Cebren, and the beloved of Paris, a son of King Priam of Troy. Oenone and Paris had a son, Corythus, but Paris deserted her for Helen. Bitterly jealous, Oenone refused to aid the wounded Paris during the Trojan War, even though she was the only one who could cure him. She at last relented but arrived at Troy too late to save him. Overcome with grief, she committed suicide.

--Encyclopedia Brittanica


Oenone by Andi Malisheski

There is a sickle moon that rises on the rock
Where you once tended sheep, as lowly men must run
On bare earth, to catch the wandering stock
And drink from springs that catch the searing sun.
I felt the burning of your footsteps long before
They found you here; the almost-man, the simple boy,
An Heir to avenues of war
Who broke the walls and wives of Troy.

You are the poison of wind
Behind a thousand sails.

3 comments:

  1. I find it very interesting that you wrote about Greek mythology. Very cool. It's fascinating to see modern poetry fully refrencing ancient topics.

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  2. your use enjambment, which dr. chambers had suggested, really helps this poem and its rhyming scheme flow naturally. again, i really enjoy the tone of your poetry and the word choice that creates it (phrases such as "sickle moon", "searing sun", and "poison of the wind" help make a beautiful but dark essence to this sonnet). the last couplet i found to be the most striking, perhaps for its concreteness and if not then for its mystery.

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  3. I agree with Alex and Marina; I love that you wrote about Greek mythology, and your tone and word choices really make this poem. My favorite bit was "An Heir to avenues of war / Who broke the walls and wives of Troy." Even more specific, I found "the walls and wives of Troy" to be particularly haunting.

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