Taken—beside the sacred fire,
sleeping virgin violated
by the unicorn’s horn.
Fertile Gaia, now fertilized,
gives tortured claw-torn birth
to gryphon and pegasus.
Renamed, diminished Demeter,
she suckles Romulus and Remus,
rears Gilgamesh and Thor,
mothers Athena and Guinevere.
Eaten by age, crone goddess,
grieves them as they turn to ash
or wander underworlds,
mourning most of all
her maiden’s long-forgotten name.
© 2025 Bruno Talerico
Stafford challenge 320/365.
Image created with AI.
Desert Dweller 