abraxas

[Hawkman]

The psyche of the Manticore
is naturally constricted;
a creature formed from other beasts
is bound to feel conflicted.

And like the poor Chimaeridae
in existential flux,
a miscegenated macro-form
that hasn’t had much luck.

At least Medusa had a face,
though you wouldn’t want to kiss it
(when Perseus cut off her head
her body didn’t miss it.)

Though Manticores have human heads
and bodies nicked from lions,
you wouldn’t want to cuddle one
unless you’d skin of iron.

Their tails come from scorpions,
from porcupines their quills,
so you can’t say they’re pointless,
though they probably feel ill.

So when you’re feeling rotten
and your confidence is low,
just spare a thought for Manticores,
whose Hell you’ll never know.

[hack]

You bring me back to a long ago reading of
"The Worm Ouroboros" and Lords Juss, Spitfire
and Goldry Bluszco. (Not to forget Brandoch Daha).

[PrinceMyshkin]

Great fun, thanks.

[hillwalker]

Thanks H - personally it reminded me of an ancient Emerson, Lake and Palmer track (?)

But I also appreciate the ironic humour aimed at more subtle mythologies.

[Hawkman]

You bring me back to a long ago reading of
"The Worm Ouroboros" and Lords Juss, Spitfire
and Goldry Bluszco. (Not to forget Brandoch Daha).

I seem to have missed this one both during and since my formative years, but I've looked it up and will be reading at the earliest opportunity, so thanks for that!


Great fun, thanks.

Glad you liked it, My Prince.


Thanks H - personally it reminded me of an ancient Emerson, Lake and Palmer track (?)

But I also appreciate the ironic humour aimed at more subtle mythologies.

I haven't raided my album collection for at least a decade. Main reason its all on vinal and I haven't got anywhere to set up my ancient turntable. Can't remember the last time I heard some ELP Glad you enjoyed my little flight of fancy.

Live and be Well, H

[Bar22do]

Written with the sting of a scorpion, at least! Seen from another angle, though, what riches of combining species! so perhaps it's hell or heaven depending on how Manticores view themselves... a witty cheering piece! thanks hawk! Bar

[Hawkman]

Sweet Bar, In view of you championship of the combination of species, coupled with contemporary attitudes towards multi ethnic inclusion in society, I have decided to let the Manticore speak for himself. Let us hope his pleas for tolerance will not fall on deaf ears... :D

The Manticore’s reply:

Not everybody’s cup of tea,
to have some fun and play with me;
with venom dripping from my sting
and quills that pierce unguarded skin,
my lion claws are rather sharp
and leave some people playing harps.

But when they wave their spears around
while flaming torches light the ground,
they never take the time to see
and say, “his face looks just like me,”
for in such moments conflagration
there’s not much time for conversation.

But when not hunted by the crowd
I have no need to wear a shroud
and though a creature born of magic
I never get to feeling tragic.
in fact, in truth, I take delight
in my existence, day and night.

Diversity is all the rage
so you don’t need to keep me caged
just leave me be so I can prowl,
I promise I won’t wear my scowl
or frighten kiddies in the night;
honestly, I never bite.

So having got that off my chest
I’ll fade from view, it’s usually best,
and leave you this, my parting thought
a kiss from me, though dearly bought,
might just restore your flagging houses,
I only need to eat your spouses….

[Bar22do]

Ha, ha... how many of these
do you have in your sleeves?!
The whole mythologic zoo,
full of affectionate Baricos
Valente drew her soar from
when she wrote her "Book of the Storm"...?
In the name of tolerance, let's recall Oubliette:
part tree, part cow, part a young nice girl,
she and Seven now perform,
our world they adorn...

you make me smile, Hawkman, that wasn't in the programme!

[Hawkman]

you make me smile, Hawkman, that wasn't in the programme!



Mission accomplished then :D I refuse to allow to be miserable!

Best, as always, H

[lallison]

Awesome! I laughed out loud. I had never been able to empathize with manticore until now. You have some wonderful humor in this piece mixed with some infamous beasts of Greek mythology (Although you forgot my personal favorite, the hydra). Clever, witty, hilarious, nice imagery, and (hehe) compassionate. Here is Hawkman at his best! A

[cogs]

in 'abraxas', further examination of the 'constricted' 'psyche', and the '...can't say they're pointless' parallel would have been interesting to me. also, it's a good contrast to serious god-worship, with the amusing fantasy.

[Hawkman]

Hi lall, and welcome back! I’m sorry you felt the lack of the Hydra but its absence is a necessary consequence of the theme of the poem. The Hydra is a beast in form, in and of itself. Although it has lots of heads, which grow back when cut off and its teeth spawn singularly inconvenient children, it is not a composite organism like Chimeras, Manticores and the late, lamented Gorgon, Medusa (who had snakes for hair).

That my unworthy verse instils compassion for the plight of Chimeras and Manticores in the heart of the reader, is most gratifying and that I am able to do so whilst simultaneously making them laugh out loud (the readers, not the beasts) is an added bonus!

So thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to post them…

cogs,

Thank you too for your observations and comments. Your remarks regarding the alternative to, “Serious god-worship…” One may of course draw parallels between the causes of religion and mythologies. Belief in supernatural beings which remain, for the most part, unseen, and fear of their capabilities which lead to attempts to appease them with gifts and praise…

So thanks again to you both. Live and be well - H

[cogs]

yes, hawkman, i should have said, 'your poem is a good contrast between serious god-worship and amusing fantasy (because i love contrasts, and the first observation was unrelated, lol).

[Hawkman]

Ah, I see where you are going with this... With regard to the "So you can't say that they're pointless" line (which was merely a little joke about the quills, I was not actually referring to belief systems and their relative merits. :D As to the psyche of the Manticore being constricted, any composite beast is bound to have a somewhat confused self-image and more than likely, given the reaction to it by the public at large, potentially abysmal self-esteem!

Best, H