M is for Minotaur

Jo Bryant
Image courtesy of Google Images

‘Why do you weep girl?’

‘For loss,’ she replied.

‘What do you know of loss?’ he asked.

‘Will I not be lost to your consumption?’

‘Is this your knowledge?’

‘It is my future, or lack of it.’

‘Futures are precarious things,

built on stones of the pain weathered past.’

‘A beast speaks of pain,’

she caressed a tear between her thumb and fingers.

‘What do you know of pain ?’ she asked,

stroking his words to come forth.

‘Born of spite and wrath,

lust falsely felt and acted upon,

I was swaddled in it from birth,’ he cried.

‘Two worlds not meant for union

war within this body and mind,

pain is the cradle

that rocked me to slumber.’

And she saw the truth of it in his eyes,

as he took her.

***

Minotaur derives from the Ancient Greek Μῑνώταυρος, a compound of the name Μίνως (Minos) and the noun ταύρος “bull”, translating as “(the) Bull of Minos”. In Crete, the Minotaur was known by its proper name, Asterion,a name shared with Minos’ foster-father.

***

In Greek mythology, the Minotaur (Ancient Greek Μῑνώταυρος [miːnɔ̌ːtau̯ros], Latin: Minotaurus, Etruscan Θevrumineś), as the Greeks imagined him, was a creature with the head of a bull on the body of a man[1] or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, “part man and part bull”.

Sourced from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minotaur

***

Submission for ABC Wednesday

***

Also submitted to the Poetry Picnic Week 20: Fairytales, My First Time, Hope and New Year’s Resolutions.

***

Published by Jo Bryant

I was born in the land of Banjo Paterson, gum trees, and weather extremes. I am a freelance photographer. I love to make images that make people happy. To capture forever a precious moment. I am also a freelance writer/editor. I live in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, but still like to claim my Australian heritage. I graduated with a Bachelor of Communications in 2008. I am writing my first novel. I love to write poetry, short stories, and also write for the web. And there is nothing that is on a par with a sunny summer's day spent at Waihi Beach.

42 Comments

  1. That was very interesting. Love Greek mythology and ancient myth & legends. You know, I do think these mixed beings were in some instances very real. As with anything, it has to be seen before it can be imagined, right?
    I looked for the twitter vote button but can only see the Facebook support your pic button on your page under your profile pic.

    Like

    1. Glad you found it so. The twitter button is there – under the FB one. Just went and checked. I’ve had a couple of people from Twitter click on it so far. Thank you for your support. 🙂

      Like

  2. Asterion (or Starry) is also the name of one of the hunting dogs that the shepherd, Boötes is leading through the sky in the constellation Canes Venatici. This, as I understand it, is why people name their dogs “Star.” But your minotaur is certainly the more imposing; and I love the ambiguous ending. By the way, a recent episode of Doctor Who featured an update of the myth of a Mynotaur that sounded very similar to yours. (My ABC Wednesday is Another Mouse.)

    Like

    1. Hi Roy – thanks for all the info. 🙂
      Love that you saw and mentioned the ambiguous ending…
      I am not a fan of The Doctor sadly, so I will have to take your word for it. LOL
      Hope that doesn’t get me hate mail from all the true blue fans.

      Like

    1. I have always seen the Minotaur as the victim really. It was not his fault he was born as he was, but the fault of his mother’s husband Minos for angering Poseidon, and Poseidon for being a dick of a God who liked to play with people. So I have always felt an empathy with him.

      Like

  8. The minotaur is something spectacular. You captured the essence of this creature well. Not that I have ever known a minotaur, but if I ever did talk with one, it might be just as you say. I would think, his human side would have both grief and love. But the other side, would have none and so her consumption in the end would Be as stick to fire, it could be no other way for a mortal in the hands of such a beast. I can’t see it the way the penshioner does. The bullman would not ask for help from a girl. He knows there is no help for what should never have been, yet is.

    But turn this idea on it’s head. If the mans love was true, the man inside the bull would wish her free of her inevidable fate at the bulls hands. He might therefore during those brief moments in which light is stronger than darkness, help a girl. as odd as that sounds.
    But I’m just talking silly. Your horse post was better.

    Like

    1. Well now I’m just completely confused.
      No – he wasn’t asking for help – he was just telling her that she had no real idea of loss. That was all he ever knew – loss and pain.
      He’d still take her – he is a predator, but here someone gave him a chance to express more than his primal needs. It wasn’t love – maybe it could be – but then, no. Not enough time for that.
      But I am still confused. Did you like it or not?

      Like

  19. Jo, you’ve done an excellent job with this piece. It’s psychologically sound and metaphorically rich.

    Like

Comments are closed.