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fathertiresias — Styx
Published: 2008-07-26 14:48:48 +0000 UTC; Views: 364; Favourites: 9; Downloads: 2
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Description I saw you that day — riding out upon the Styx;
I waded in, though Charon bade me wait,
        (I was always so hot-headed)
The current dragged me down, I lost myself
amidst the stale slimy waters.
Hands outstretched; only then did you turn
        to look at me. Your eyes shone bright,
all-knowing, — they blinded me.

I watched your body wash upon the shore,
Lips bruised and mind all bloodied.
I wreathed you in blankets, warmed you;
        You were shuddering when you woke.
I asked you, "Why do you shudder so?"
You did not answer.

I remember that day, — you kissed me,
The fires of Hell blazed behind us;
        I could not speak that day.
We spoke with fingertips and eyelashes,
and touches barely felt. We spoke
        with touches that day; I swear
I've never spoken since.

I kissed you when your eyes told me things
        Inexplicable. I touched
Your trembling body and you wept
Tears of blistered broken joy
        (I kissed them off your swollen cheeks)
You wept that day, half-drowned,
In the silent mists of Hades.

I cried that day, you bade my tears spill forth
        and drain into the Styx.
The mists grew thick around me, I couldn't feel
Your tender fingertips upon me.
I stood up dizzy and shattered: I could not see you,
I lost you that day upon the banks of that
        Infernal river. The fog swirled around me
And enveloped me, cold and impersonal, —
I begged it for your fingertips.

I did not abandon you that day, I swear,
The Ferryman took me, cast me down
        In Pluto's gilded palace.
He spoke to me, the King of the Dead,
He spoke with rasping words great and inhuman...
        (I longed for your tender silent kisses)
I did not abandon you. And what he told me
Transfixed my quivering soul that day....
(I saw regal Persephone weeping at his side)
        He told me this:
        "You cannot love in Hell!"
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Comments: 14

Pickled-Poppy [2009-06-29 22:40:37 +0000 UTC]

I like it I like it lots. It's a really vivid image and it's fabby

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fathertiresias In reply to Pickled-Poppy [2009-06-30 07:57:22 +0000 UTC]

Haha 'fabby' – I like that

Thanks

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Pickled-Poppy In reply to fathertiresias [2009-06-30 08:03:18 +0000 UTC]

I have a small collection of little words like that.
They make me ridiculous happy to use in sentences...

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Mahiro17 [2008-08-04 13:02:18 +0000 UTC]

I really love this, there is just something about it and its great that you are trying new and different things, it works for you!

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fathertiresias In reply to Mahiro17 [2008-08-04 14:06:39 +0000 UTC]

You're too kind!

I'm really glad you enjoyed it and thanks so much for the Fav

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Mahiro17 In reply to fathertiresias [2008-08-05 17:37:41 +0000 UTC]

You deserve it.

and you are welcome!

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adelechapline [2008-07-29 01:17:44 +0000 UTC]

You are vastly improving with each piece I adore this, and it's an immediate fav

Criticism:
*The fires of Hell blazed beyond us
-before or behind rather than beyond...beyond doesn't quite fit.

*Your blistered body and you wept
Tears of blistered broken joy
-not a fan of random repetition of words. synonym search?

Keep writing ^^ You're doing an amazing job. This almost reminded me of La Belle Dame Sans Merci...(in the way that it is a romance involving the woman absent at the end. )

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fathertiresias In reply to adelechapline [2008-07-29 02:51:10 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much

You're right, 'beyond' seems misplaced. I'll change it immediately.

The repetition of 'blistered' was intentional, though perhaps not effective. I'll change its first instance as he shouldn't be blistered in the first place, since I previously described him as shivering from the cold water. I obviously overlooked this when I was writing it during the early hours of the morning haha

Thanks for the comparison with the Keats poem. I wasn't thinking of it consciously when I wrote this but as I idolise Keats it may well have had some influence ^^

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adelechapline In reply to fathertiresias [2008-07-29 03:39:55 +0000 UTC]

J'adore Keats ^^

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PoeticAnjel [2008-07-26 15:35:24 +0000 UTC]

i love the visualization through your words.

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fathertiresias In reply to PoeticAnjel [2008-07-27 01:44:01 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

(and for he )

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PoeticAnjel In reply to fathertiresias [2008-07-27 12:57:06 +0000 UTC]

very very welcome. it's wonderful.

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Blueskye27 [2008-07-26 14:57:06 +0000 UTC]

Another fabulous piece! I'd never given the Styx itself much thought, and your description of what happened to him when he went into the water is fascinating.

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fathertiresias In reply to Blueskye27 [2008-07-27 01:33:38 +0000 UTC]

Aww, thank you

And thanks so much for the Fav!

I didn't think it was that great. And I don't know how I came up with the story, the first three lines just came to me and I went from there.

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