Hollyhock Tears Or Whispers Of Gods.

This poem is based on a Greek tale.

 

When rain came and flowers grew,

Pieuronian princess wept for her son,

glazed eyes weakened by distress at

what she'd done:

 

don't you know; she came back on

dew drenched petals? Better here,

endeavouring not to suppress tears

than in darkness for what she'd done.

 

Was it wildness of swine rampaging?

Cruel cost for son's demise – envy

covets an uncle's resentment, when

to go berserk, Artemis sent a boar.

 

Log thrown on burning fire in hearth,

son's spirit in wood rising as flames

grew higher. Altheae sat in silence –

with no direction...if only to return

some reason why?

 

but truth be known it was too late and

much to bear; her actions were taunted

in teardrops...becoming those beautiful

Hollyhocks,

 

sustained petals soaking up emotions,

pleasure of rain cools apprehension;

casting off twisted ploys; whispered

through threads of conversation,

 

information is not crystal clear,

did Gods with whispers reshape

their history with proficiency?

Or their labours unfold with truth,

then scatter like autumn leaves?

 

After all, never was I there nestled

within pockets of Gods, or donning

wings to be a fly on the wall.

 

Hopes and dreams abound in garden

where these soulful blooms eloquently

grow, essence to uplift – champions of

support when life feels meaningless,

their charm emulates encouragement,

spurring me on.

 

 

Picture was free to use in public domain.

 

 

 

According To Wikipedia:

 

Altheae was a Greek princess who became

the Queen when she married Oeneus, King

of Calydon. Together they had seven sons

and four daughters.

 

One of her sons named Meleager it is said:

came from a love affair with Ares who was

the Greek God of war and was son of Zeus.

 

The fates appeared to Altheae, telling her

that Meleager's life was bound to a log in

the family hearth. He would live as long as

the log was unconsumed by fire. It's said

Altheae either buried the log in the palace,

or placed it in a chest. Meleager grew to be

a noble prince.

 

One spring Oeneus was sacrificing the first

fruits of the season to the Gods, accidentally

he omitted Artemis who was the Goddess of

the hunt. Enraged Artemis unleashed a

massive, ferocious boar on Calydon, it

rampaged across the countryside, killing

any person it came across.

 

Oeneus gathered a group of warriers together

including: Meleager and Ataianta who was a

Greek Heroine, to kill the boar.

 

Meleager dealt the killing strike to the

boar, but gave the skin to Ataianta, for

two reasons: because he'd fallen in love

with her, but also Ataianta had landed

the first of many subsequent blows on the

boar.

 

Meleager's uncles were outraged and

forced the boar's skin from Atainanta

and Meleager then killed them both.

 

When Altheae found out she was

distraught and enraged: she took

the log and burned it in the hearth

killing her son Meleager.

 

Her grief became too much to bear,

it's said she committed suicide, by

either hanging or stabbing herself.

 

In Greek Mythology Hollyhocks

were believed to have been created

by the tears shed by Altheae after

the death of her son Meleager.