178: Love and Wisdom Go to War

You want to know

what we did wrong?

We told love stories

of teenagers

and expected it to change the hearts

of old white men in suits.

We told of Romeo and Juliet

and ignored their feuding houses.

We told of Daphne and Apollo

and ignored the influence of Zeus.

We told of Katniss and of Peeta

and ignored the Capitol

We have told love stories

to change the hearts of people

but those that matter remain

mostly untouched.

So here's another story: Aphrodite and Athena

ravaged battlefields.

Artemis gouged out the eyes of men

whenever they thought themselves invincible.

Women fought

and women fight.

Zeus and Ares were both men in suits

but we stand by Athena

who gave Medusa one power:

to turn her hunters into stone.

We watch as Eros crumbles

under Aphrodite's withering gaze and we fall

into every leaf and metal and grain of salt

and breathe.

Zeus and Ares and Eros

never left the battlefield alive.

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Written by: Katrine Hjulstad

Instagram: @katrinehjulstad

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Publisher's note: Please note that all poetry published with Eudaemonia Records has been seen by our editors, and that the editors have suggested revisions where they see fit, but we believe that it is ultimately the writer's decision to accept or reject any suggestions and take no responsibility for which suggestions they accept or reject.