dragonlady7

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bluebeardsbride https://bluebeardsbride.tumblr.com/post/650798319328739328/a-catalog-of-heroes-by-mary-ann-dimand-if :

A Catalog of Heroes

by Mary Ann Dimand

If Odysseus knew his crewmates’ names, we cannot tell it. Poltroon lieutenant, promising youth, the hapless boy who fell from Circe’s roof—these are named. But whole shipsful died without a whisper of fame.

Heroes are a menace. They strut, they duel, they declaim on stages timbered with peasant bones. They never take an oar— just struggle against the bonds they begged for, hearing siren songs they deny their crew.

Who are the shepherds spinning, spinning wool as they watch the sheep, weavers, carrying their work in case a moment’s pause gives space for the shuttle? Who are the farmers whose oxen carve the soil to make parade grounds for arrays of grain? Miners raising ore as if from Tartarus, smelters torturing forth the metal, smiths pounding its sheets to sweet-ringing bowls or shields? Whose kine were slain to feed these noisy warriors; whose vines brought sunshine to their cups?

They pound their shields with spears as ones who never smoothed a dent, gobble and scatter bread they never hungered to save seed for. And show me a hero who knows what doing laundry is …

Soil and the makers I sing— patient daring with chance and storm and locust, the making of next year’s harvest even from last year’s ruins, the dancing to greet plenty when it comes. It is these who make the feast— though no one honors them or seeks their tales. (Your picture was not posted)