To be One of Them By Kayla Hall

With a glance of your eyes you could turn men
into stone. As if Medusa gave you
her ability. One note from your throat
could bring men to their knees with your siren
voice. Humble you are to receive such gifts,
heart is heavier than vision and voice.
So such gifts don't get used, therefore I come
to praise you. Harps announce your arrival.
The gods you worship return the favor
thrusting upon you more power and gifts.
Family anchors you to sanity,
a dam holding back your full potential.

Your beauty transferred onto white marble.
Men from all corners shall gather to bask
upon your glory for all time to come.

Your perfect arms belong on your body
instead crushed, ruining your memory.
Even without arms your beauty outshines
those who look at your never aging face.
But you fade away, color fades, size change.

Once upon a time a glance of your eyes
froze men in slabs of grey stone, now you are
trapped inside marble, to be united
with the men you could of harmed. Kindness once
made you stronger, now it makes you alone.

You could have had all the men turn with you.
Instead you stand to watch men change daily.
I praise you. Harps announce your arrival
at mount Olympus, to be with the gods.
With all your gifts you belong to the gods.
                                                                  

(“With a glance of your eyes...”)

BY RABINDRANATH TAGORE

                                                      XII

With a glance of your eyes you could plunder all the wealth of songs struck from poets’ harps, fair woman!

But for their praises you have no ear; therefore do I come to praise you.

You could humble at your feet the proudest heads of all the world;

But it is your loved ones, unknown to fame, whom you choose to worship; therefore I worship you.

Your perfect arms would add glory to kingly splendor with their touch;

But you use them to sweep away the dust, and to make clean your humble home; therefore I am filled with awe.