I did not choose for it to happen I did not have a choice But the gods They do not care.
And so my hair is naught but snakes.
I came to this cave- I had to eventually- My only choice was when.
Still, I chose the time of my own volition- the people do not care. They blame me. They say it was my choice to be struck And drowned And violated In the temple I lived in. They say i deserved the poison, And they call me a monster. The snakes may bite me, But I choose who else they attack.
It is not my fault it happened. The curse is not my fault. The people, constantly attacking me and being killed for it- It is their fault. And it is the gods’ fault too.
The gods- They do not care. They send a boy to attack me,instead of doing it themselves. Perhaps they feel guilty.
They do not care.
I cannot choose to die- But I can choose when. And so i open my eyes-
Foolish. Used as an object, even in death.
inspired by https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/150926/medusa-with-the-head-of-perseus