By Peggy Landsman
Athena sprang full grown, full clad, from the head of Zeus, her dad.
(By Jove, that must have hurt a tad!)
Product of pure paternity, well-armored Wisdom never smiles.
She is her father's favorite child—
He trusts his thunderbolt to her.
When he's brought down by fierce migraines,
Athena knows he's in the throes of phantom labor pains.
I'm a sucker for mythology, devour Bulfinch and Hamilton translations.
When I suffer from migraines, I blame my ruminations.
Sometimes there is no remedy as good as sweet Mnemosyne,
Sometimes a hint from Hera aids...
But, mon dieu, those midnight raids!
I don't believe Greek myths I've read.
I know what I know: All gods are dead.
Yet, godly forces seize me.
On the darkest nights they dare
Wage war against my atheist pride on battlefields of air.
I lament Immortals have to lose.
I've only headaches. No faith in the Muse.
Unless...These headaches I suffer from
Herald a whole new Pantheon!
High time a new generation's created.
Look how long since Greece we've waited.
But first let's set the record straight,
Open the files on Athena-gate:
Fearing her awesome female power might topple his Olympic Ivory Tower,
Zeus swallowed pregnant Metis whole,
Claimed credit for Wisdom's conception, consolidated his control.
But Wisdom in the womb was wise, waited till she'd grown full size.
Her shining armor would be well worn 'ere she caved in to being born.
Now I've satisfied my pregnant cravings.
Here come those cranial labor pains.
My thoughts, my breath...so elevated.
How goddesses should be created!
True Wisdom from my head will sprout.
She'll be a good daughter. She'll know her own mother.
We'll work our family problems out.
Modern Wisdom—delightful, joyous child
Will wear no armor but a smile.
Ungodly Headaches was first published in Clockwise Cat.
Peggy Landsman's poetry and prose has been published in both online and print literary journals and anthologies, including Gander Press Review, Spindle, The Muse Strikes Back (Story Line Press), Bridges (Indiana University Press), Iodine Poetry Journal, and a previous issue of Les Bonnes Fees. Her first poetry chapbook, To-wit To-woo, is available from FootHills Publishing. She recently published a contemporary romance novel, Passion's Professor (Midnight Showcase) under the pen name Samantha Rhodes. Peggy has a website.
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