Athena's Line

ATHENA, oil on linen by Sandra M. Stanton 

Under the aegis of the owl, I learned I was Athena’s child.

Mom taught me as she sheared the sheep and spun the yarn to clothe us all.

     Let us start with the Greeks, she said,

     though more ancient ties will emerge:

I oppose Aphrodite—she nature-born of sea foam—I tame

wilderness; I am craft and art.  Born of mankind, I make cities.

     Mom poured libations to creation

     from porcelain pots she threw herself.

Took homespun from her mythic wheel to weave by hand into whole cloth,

Palmed in blue weft for strength, for peace and justice  (strategy—not war),

     Pulled red, white, black and gold for warp

     of industry, design and art.

Added grey for angles of houses, for privacy at day’s end

white for eyes of God fringed in black for beauty, boldness and for depth

     Testimony poured in, brightened

     vanishing points above buildings.

Mother, did you make me yourself , like a basket of twisted reed?

Did you find me floating downstream like the daughter of Pharoah’s dream?

     No, child, wisdom gave birth to you

     as she did me through Zeus’s head.

Athena, guide me today—it is your shield that checks the rain;

Your craft shapes the pen and paper I wield along the way

     where both wisdom and folly play

     my art in words to seize the day. 



Posted for Poetry Pantry # 140  at Poets United.

Copyright © 2013 S.L.Chast
Chosen for book 11/9/2013