by S. T.

Created on: July 09, 2009

a Partridge

Bleeding Apollo fell behind the horizon
And the bruised skirts of Artemis were heard.
Her face appeared tearful and wizen,
Her speech drunken and slurred.

Damn Ate, damn her! she cried.
Her lips were colored with vintage,
The mouth empty and wide,
Her hand clutched the heart of a partridge.

Awakened by the saddened huntress,
The moon unveiled Dionysus.

Your cries have penetrated my fortress,
Speak of your troubles, come, what is this crisis?

I was fooled and cozened by Ate, she explained,
I have for many years longed for Perdix,
Whom I found high up in Athena's chamber enchained,
Turned into a partridge sitting in a calix.

One day, Ate came to me and said,
'I've found a way to break the chains,
Take that calix, go ahead,
Drink it all and leave no remains.'

Blindly I complied and drank the last drop
While the partridge gazed at me with shame.
His eyes shrilled at me to stop
But how could I face such blame?

His feathers quivered and fluttered
And Perdix soon stood, doubled, tripled, in front of me.
'Is it Artemis or Bacchic I am seeing?' he uttered,
'Your beauty echoes faintly in my memory.'

'But your essence and poise are a disgrace,
Your fragrance of spirit is foreign to my senses
The dearest I know of sparks an urge to chase,
Not stagger about without any defenses.'

'What do you speak? Speak clearer!
You've rescued me, you say? But for what purpose?
I refuse to be exploited, don't come any nearer!
The warmth your radiate is estrous.'

And I could utter no plausible reply,
But clung to his arm and wept and pleaded.
Perdix suddenly glared me in the eye
And plunged his hands into his chest and kneaded.

'If it's my heart you thirst for, here!'
Still fervent and pulsing, his heart was in my palm.
But by the time my consciousness grew clear,
He was gone with all feelings of calm.

And here I am, twilight to twilight, searching
With his heart in my hand, intoxicated with every beat.
Artemis then got up to continue her lurching
While Dionysus remained at his seat.

He did not know where she would go,
Now for how long it would continue whatsoever,
But of partridge's fate he knew of long ago,
That he was lost to her forever.

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