Ode to an Antihero
It’s not that you’re
Caught between virtue and vice
It’s that you lie still
Scratch a little, as if looking for lice.
Have I mentioned how beautiful you are,
Your eyes reflecting in the moon?
You’re like a stillborn butterfly
Stuck and dying in its cocoon.
H is for Harmartia,
Is it fate-driven or choice?
The only tragedy here
Is your refusal to have a voice.
You’re a toothless lion
Without a pride
But it’s too hot to hunt today,
So just be still and lie on your side.
Jun 15th 2005
I happen to really like this poem. Of course, if you don’t have a literary background, the nuances in it will probably not be evident (but I keep telling myself you should still like it). What I’ve done is to take the classic greek hero (of tragedy) and negated every one of his qualities in some way (so as to represent the Antihero).
The Greek Tragic Hero had these characteristics: He was caught between virtue and vice; He had a tragic flaw (Hamartia) brought about either by fate or choice; and he delt with Hubris (pride) which was either overbearing or underweaning.
Jan 25th 2006
I really like this poem! Very much!
Jan 31st 2006
Why thank you, Sphinx! I just discovered your comment here as I was adding del.icio.us tags. I’m glad someone besides me appreciates it.