Tuesday, June 4, 2013

What Can You Do? By ERIKA BEAVER (imitation)

What Can You Do?
By ERIKA BEAVER

What can you give one who has everything?
One who’s made of beauty and desire?
Who’s smile and laughter is radiant?
Such as the Goddess named Aphrodite.

What to do to one who takes away life?
A god of war, bloodshed, and violence?
One who’s moody and unreliable?
Son of Zeus, goes by the name of Ares.

What can you teach someone of great wisdom?
One of intelligence and strategy?
Who’s grey eyes are especially bright?
Was born from her father’s head, Athena.

What do you eat when with the God of wine?
The one who throws parties and festivals?
In charge of drunkedness, and ecstasy?
A God such as the great Dionysus.

How do you stop the God of the earthquakes?
From tearing apart the entire earth?
One who’s sturdy and carries a trident?
One as strong as the God called Poseidon.

How to give life to the keeper of death?
King of the underworld and hidden wealth?
One who’s treasure is produce and metal?
Also known as Pluto, he is Hades.

How do you take youth from one who gives life?
The queen of the heavens and childbirth?
The goddess of women, kings, and marriage?
Most often referred to by the name Hera.

How do you give more power to the king?
The ruler of Gods and Mount Olympus?
The God of weather, law, order, and fate?

Zeus, who killed his brother, and took the throne.


[I asked myself / What, Sappho, can...]

BY SAPPHO
TRANSLATED BY MARY BARNARD
I asked myself
 
What, Sappho, can
you give one who
has everything,
like Aphrodite?


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