Two Poems by Izzie Saparoff

 

Oracle

 

Cassandra knows that when she speaks, everyone will hear her.

They’ll listen as she says their doom draws nearer, nearer, nearer.

Cassandra gets no privacy from anything she shares;

When the serpent-mother speaks,

Everybody cares.

 

Cassandra sees them listen and Cassandra sees them nod

Cassandra sees them laugh she thinks she’s favored by a god.

While she keeps crying visions of the fires, of the grieving—

Cassandra knows the chasm shearing hearing

From believing.

 

O Oracle Cassandra, why keep on speaking true?

Their mockery has more to do with destiny than you.

Let them reap the woe they sow and let them face the fire—

Why warn them, bear all their abuse,

Then join them on the pyre?

 

 

Lady Thane

 

Lady, speak with witches’ voice
Match your act and valor
Blend the owl and unicorn and all that’s in between
Lady thane, you’ll make your choice
Scorning heart-blood’s pallor
All that happens is the fault of you who should be queen.

Duncan claimed your father’s throne
Bloodlust claimed your father
Who could fault you reaching out to set the board to right?
Watch the tide of blood and bone
Pulsing ever farther
Breaking on your loyalty upon this sternst goodnight.

Lady Thane, you said the word
Dashing out the marrow
Now what matter trickles down upon your spider’s hand?
Nearly made your presence heard,
Shouting neath the barrow.
When the pieces topple down, dare you think you stand?

Glamis and Cawdor stole the throne
You stole back your station
Who wins when the bellman shrieks and spirits flood your breast?
Lady, lady, so alone
Ward of ruthless nation
Lady, lay your clean hands down and take your woman’s rest.

Izzie Saparoff is an aspiring writer living in Brooklyn, New York. Izzie is enthralled with the ways in which literary and legendary women manifest in the contemporary zeitgeist.