Apr 2020
That’s what they called this place,
flaking crucible,
immemorial immobile figures
gawked at by a deluge of tourists.
A German man sidles past
as we edge towards
the main attraction,
multi-limbed citadel.
I imagine the Propylaea
pricked with stars, the dagger of light
that cracked it open,
awoke the commas of fire.
We circle round.
Like a chalk house.
Here, where Athena,
frame of ivory and gold
surveyed all,
Phidias’s maiden
with Victory shimmering
in the heart of her hand.
Soon we discover
the Theatre of Dionysus,
lemon wedge
of staggered steps,
chipped thrones of marble.
Now, the thrum of many tongues,
the words of Aeschylus, Thespis,
inhaled by the Athenian sky.
flaking crucible,
immemorial immobile figures
gawked at by a deluge of tourists.
A German man sidles past
as we edge towards
the main attraction,
multi-limbed citadel.
I imagine the Propylaea
pricked with stars, the dagger of light
that cracked it open,
awoke the commas of fire.
We circle round.
Like a chalk house.
Here, where Athena,
frame of ivory and gold
surveyed all,
Phidias’s maiden
with Victory shimmering
in the heart of her hand.
Soon we discover
the Theatre of Dionysus,
lemon wedge
of staggered steps,
chipped thrones of marble.
Now, the thrum of many tongues,
the words of Aeschylus, Thespis,
inhaled by the Athenian sky.
Written: 2018/19.
Explanation: A poem that was part of my MFA Creative Writing manuscript, in which I wrote poems about cities that have staged the Eurovision Song Contest, or taken the name of a song and written my own piece inspired by the title. I have received a mark for this body of work now, so am sharing the poems here.
Explanation: A poem that was part of my MFA Creative Writing manuscript, in which I wrote poems about cities that have staged the Eurovision Song Contest, or taken the name of a song and written my own piece inspired by the title. I have received a mark for this body of work now, so am sharing the poems here.
