Self-consumed
with serpent’s mind,
sensing misery in self
when juxtaposed
with other’s fortune
turning gold to ash.
Awake
to being gorgonized
with sagging breasts
and rot in breath,
while snaking tresses stupify
and throttles mind
to blow flies’ buzz —
a useless lullaby.
Today Lisa hosts dVerse poetics with a prompt using sculptures as the inspiration. She offers either an ekphrasic option of using one of her images from an exhibition at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Michigan or using the sculpture describing yourself as a sculpture, I went with the first option which made me think of the classic theme of the Gorgons, aptly titled envy.
April 15, 2025
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Bjorn, your first two lines set the tone of the tune of envy. “Gorgonized” with self-destruction. Excellent writing to the sculpture and about a “sinful” aspect of human nature.
I saw the gorgon at once, and loved the scultpure, with a perfect title alongside.
not a lullaby I whish to hear
Indeed not
I love the title and so many of is have been consumed by envy, “turning gold to ash”. Excellent.
Envy is such a bad venom
It sure is.
your poem does justice to this bust
much♡love
Thank you
I love the title, and I enjoyed how the statue came alive with rotting breath.
Not a nice person to meet… but that is what envy does.
It is amazing how the grotesqueness of the sculpture draws one to look at it. It is almost gargoyle in nature. Well done!
A gargoyle or a gorgon… they share the part of being scary
I enjoyed the way you played with the noun ‘Gorgon’, Björn, and brought the sculpture to life, highlighting the tragedy of Medusa in the phrases ‘self-consumed with serpent’s mind’ and ‘snaking tresses stupefy’.
I think the madness of medusa is sad….
Me too. I read a wonderful book by Natalie Haynes called Stone Blind, all about Medusa.
Oof. That’s one scary sculpture Björn, and has rotting breath? Oh my! You did it justice in this poem. Artsy is what you are. Thanks.
Dark art maybe
Oh my, Bjorn. A most effective poem.
Thank you
You’ve captured the emotion so well.
You captured that bust perfectly, Bjorn! Great poem!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Complements the bust almost too well….turning gold to ash…the sheer destructive power of negative emotion…a bust like that is surely made for the poet’s eye, and makes curiosly satisfying reading…
Quite familiar with Medusa, not her sisters. Therefore, your beautifully constructed poem was also an education! Great work, Bjorn.
Björn, the imagery here is quite striking to me, and the way envy suffocates yet reflects is powerful.
Much love,
David
Wow! Brilliant work, Bjorn.