(Poem) many breasted by Susan Hawthorne

 

Photo credit: Diana of Ephesus in the Musei Capitolini, Tome, Susan Hawthorne, 2013.
Photo credit: Diana of Ephesus in the Musei Capitolini, Tome, Susan Hawthorne, 2013.

the many-breasted ones are here in droves

from Rome comes Lupa in company

with harpies griffins and Egyptian phoenix

they howl and call like a rabble of banshees

 

from Ephesus Diana her many breasts

sweet as mangoes as the ancient Tamil

poets would say

 

Livia welcomes them provides spritz

Aperol or Campari she asks

introduces them to a group of dust-red women

their breasts painted up

 

the women invite the old ones to dance with them

their easy shuffle raises the dust of the piazza

they dance to the sound of an ancient drone

and rising voices

 

look it’s Psappha and her thiasos

come to join the dance their tender feet

continuing though no sweet meadow

of pale summer grass here

 

there’s a vibration in the air rarely felt these past

six thousand years

 

The poem is forthcoming in my collection Lupa and Lamb to be published in September 2014 by Spinifex. For more, see my blog at http://susanslambdawolfblog.blogspot.com.au/

Read Meet Mago Contributor Susan Hawthorne.

 


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0 thoughts on “(Poem) many breasted by Susan Hawthorne”

  1. I have been enamoured of the Artemis of Efes ever since seeing her, and visiting the temple to Diana nearby. The ruined amphitheater and Celsius Library were impressive. This visit was one of the great experiences of my life. Thank you for reminding me, and for bringing together in your poem the variety of manifestations of this Goddess.

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