My Gorgon mask is menstrual red
A monstrosity to behold by all
With eyes that drip like tears
But blood and hair that coils and writhes
And bites and tongue that lashes and whips
Like chains and fury blazing bright

"Your Gorgon Mask spits violent venom
Too powerful to clutch and hold,
Too ferocious and vibrantly obscene
To fight and tame and suffocate
Indecent monstrous impure grotesque
Tear away that horrendous face"

My Gorgon Mask I peeled back
And hid away in lonely despair
I melted down and in dismembered
Rattling pieces which did not fit
Or soothe or save or blend or breathe
Collapsed into this whirling pond

"Your Gorgon Mask spits violent venom
Too powerful to clutch and hold
Too vibrant, shining, living strong
To fight or tame or subjugate
Beautiful honest divine unique
Wear again that true and pure face"

My Gorgon Mask she saw beneath
The layers I used to hide away
And revealed a mask it was not, but I
Its deadly beauty did not shoot stone
But love and strength and soul and life
No longer feared but worn with pride

'Gorgon' © Elise Archer forever. May not be reproduced without permission