Death From Above

Poseidon fell afflicted by a temple maiden's hair.
The sea rose up with his rapacious passion
Overwhelming her, helpless, inside Athena's lair.

The angry Goddess turned victim-blamer
And cursed her unfortunate servant
To a stoney gaze and a pate of hideous serpents.

Defiled, crushed by injustice,
Medusa curled herself weeping on the shore.
Loved by no one, man nor immortal, anymore.

When by no malice of Medusa's making,
Perseus, with Athena's blessing, drew near,
Used the Goddess's shield as a mirror--

Chopped off the gorgon's head from ear to ear!
Then sprung from her decapitation:
One giant, and one equine mutation.

Medusa's son, Pegasus, rose into flight.
He kept himself company
Until one fateful night...

The Goddess Athena promised him to one
Who vowed never to harm, to act out of love,
Whose heroism required dealing death from above.

The Chimera was raging, killed villages entire.
Young hero Bellerophon sought fame
And the daughter of the foreign land's Sire.

With valor, astride Pegasus,
No monster could win.
And thus was gained glory, born out of sin.

Clipart credit: https://goo.gl/images/oM1omL