Watery Tails

Watery Tails

In Greek mythology, Poseidon was the earth-shaking king of the sea.

(Poseidon’s counterpart in Roman mythology was Neptune.)

With his trident, Poseidon ruled the underwater realm, traveling with his horse and bull. Poseidon was regarded by ancient Greeks as one of the mightiest of all mythological gods.

Promotional Still

from Queen of the Sea

by Fox Films

(1918)

Fancy Fishing

Poseidon was beside himself;

His heart had knocked him off the shelf.

A mermaid’s glance,

With eyes askance,

Reduced the water king to elf.

Amphibiosity desired,

Poseidon with the maid conspired.

He tipped his cup;

Then, swimming up,

The underwater tsar retired.

The moral here is damp, but sure:

Desire dangles danger’s lure.

c2010 by Linda Ann Nickerson

Posted for a variety of prompts:

Easy Street Prompts (“amphibious)

Friday Flash-55 (55 words)

Heads or Tails (“cup”)

Meme Express (Friday Freedom)

Weekend Wordsmith (“Poseidon”)

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts!  Or, look into The Meme Express for daily blogging prompts.

Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

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As I Discover

Posted for a Simply Snickers prompt on “day” and “discover.”

As I Discover
(A Miltonian Sonnet)

The Giver of light banishes all fear.

“This is the message
we have heard from Him
and declare to you:
God is light;
in Him there is no darkness at all.”
(1 John 1:5, NIV)

As I discover how the day is done,
The sun gone past, so long before its time,
Its counterpart, which comes in dark to shine
Appears not glowing, though the light has gone
To answer to its call and hasten on
The time to come, awaiting still a sigh.
"Can day return, unless the stars align?"
I wonder then, yet courage shed upon
My fear, soon answers, "Lord your God needs not
Sunlight or moonlight guiding Him; ye still
Living in fear, ye darken most; His Son
Is brighter. Starbeams in His Name are caught
And 'lumine life's creation at His will.
Ye cannot hide that only turn and run.

c1981 by Linda Ann Nickerson

 

Images:

Top - center: The Transfiguration, by Raphael (c1520).

Above: Milkmaids with Cattle in a Landscape:
The Farm at Laeken, by Peter Paul Rubens (c1618).

Below - right: Equestrian Portrait
of the Duke of Lerma,
by Peter Paul Rubens (c1603).

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Line, Please! (Haiku in five stages, addressing the ages)

(Written upon request of Mad Kane's "age” and “life stage" prompts.)

“All the world's a stage,
and all the men and women
merely players:
they have their exits
and their entrances;
and one man
in his time
plays many parts,
his acts being seven ages.”
William Shakespeare
As You Like It
(Act II, Scene 7)
(1564 – 1616)

Line, Please!
(Haiku in five stages, addressing the ages)

If life is a stage,
And all mankind mere players,
Who’s performing now?

Someone, cue me please!
I’m not sure what I should say.
Understudy, help!

No rehearsals here.
Who says I must act my age?
I would rather not.

Costume crisis here!
Danger! Wardrobe malfunction.
Hope that camera’s off!

Don’t need star billing.
Please, just let me stick

c2008 by Linda Ann Nickerson

Classics Class - a Teacher's Lament on Students' Descent

Let's take a peek in a present-day high school English class, from behind the teacher's desk. Are we dumbing-down literature and creative writing? What has happened to culture and literacy?

Classics Class

"Publish or perish!" the principal said.
Perhaps I would be better off left for dead.
My dreams, they are filled with inkblots of red,
And my editing pencil has run out of lead.

A sophomoric essay has caught me off-guard,
Comparing an MTV star to the Bard.
Old Will's reputation is suddenly marred
By teen disrespect and complete disregard.

Want to read more? Click here to read "Classics Class: A Teacher's Lament."

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