‘What are words that you hate, Athena,
‘And what are the words that you love?’
Until now I had never called her Athena
But here was born a delicate intimacy
Between us and moreover I really was
Curious re Athena’s word preferences.
She hung fire for a moment then said
‘Tantamount! I hate that word which
‘Only the assholes speaketh. Words
‘That I love? Hm, hm. Well, nosegay
‘Is dear to me except nosegay is rarely
‘Heard since the old Victorian times.
‘Wait, why did you call me Athena?
‘Wait, I LOVE the word antimacassar.’
Another Athena sonnet >>
Read in my face a volume of despairs,
The wailing Iliads of my tragic woe,
Drawn with my blood and printed with my cares
Wrought by her hand, that I have honor’d so.
Who, whilst I burn, she sings at my soul’s wrack,
Looking aloft from turret of her pride;
There my soul’s tyrant joys her in the sack
Of her own seat, whereof I made her guide.
There do these smokes that from affliction rise,
Serve as an incense to a cruel Dame;
A sacrifice thrice grateful to her eyes,
Because their power serve to exact the same.
Thus ruins she, to satisfy her will,
The Temple where her name was honor’d still.
— Samuel Daniel (1562-1619)
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Author: Mitch Sisskind
