"Defend yourSelves. How
did you get Here?"
From her weaving room,
on the Island, Athena
turns the Mirror, to spot
-Light the Querent.As Mars takes the stand
he pulls a poem out
of his heart pocket.
Mercury had handed it
to him, as Mars walked in
to the Courtroom.
It is dated from last
February; Ripped out
of his own diary...
Mars reads...
"I am Here because my Daemon
would not fight me. He let me burn
myself to sunken ash. He said no
sorry and yet Nothing else to spite me.
He only became a wall
of darkened glass.
I am Here because I drank the Tao
enough times. And often I would
listen, in the bath. In the words,
I heard he is the teacher; to confuse
not the student,
he steps back. I am Here
because I learned I was
the anger, dousing herself
until there is
Nothing left."
The Moon rushes upfrom the back of the Courtroom
laughing and crying. WithJupiter beside her,
she bounces back, a poem
by Sara Teasdale.
She serenades Mars,
as if he were
the Moon herself...
from ‘Strange Victory,” by Sara Teasdale
"Ah yes," Athena smiles
where she is braiding,
and listening. "I know
that One, too, Moonie.
But page 14, was When
I opened to it. Perhaps
Advice to a Girl,
will fortify Mars
as Well," Athena musesand then begins,a recitation to her
weaving room, not knowing
how and When the notes
will wave into Mars...