Thursday, December 15, 2022

Hermodike

King Midas stamped his wish Return to Sender

after finding neither food nor drink

survived his golden touch. While he grew slender

moping under scentless roses—clink

Hermodike pulled off a golden petal,

took it to the marketplace to trade

for fine imported clothing. Precious metal

thin as skin and shapely as a blade.

 

Astonishment surrounds King Midas’ queen!

No-one in Phrygia has ever seen

such finely crafted gold. “Oh—” she rejoins

“a thing my husband made—we call them coins.”

Midas: you know his story and his name.

Hermodike deserves an equal fame.

 

Books Available
Dervish Lions
The Day of My First Driving Lesson
Country Well-Known as an Old Nightmare's Stable
High-Voltage Lines
Knocking from Inside

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