which if you want to keep,
you’ll do what I ask.
It isn’t much,
this little task
I have in mind. Build me
a cow of wood and hide.
Life-size but hollow.
Then I’ll crawl inside
and . . .” Her voice trailed away.
No need to say more.
We all knew what she wanted.
That unnatural whore
was the talk of the island!
The way she raved
in the palace, begging . . .
Desperate. Depraved.
She had no regard
for reputation or rank.
But that’s not the worst part.
Let me be frank:
It wasn’t her husband she wanted.
No such luck.
It was Poseidon’s Bull
she was begging to— Look,
I’m not uptight.
To each his own and all that.
But this was too much!
I should have flat-
out said no.
I won’t do it.
But she was the queen.
In the end, I said screw it
and I built the thing
to her sordid specifications.
The rest I’ll leave
to your imaginations.
Poseidon
I couldn’t help but overhear
That pansy’s harangue.
For the white bull’s thang.
Be glad that I did!
If I hadn’t? No story.
You know the drill:
No guts. No glory.
Now you’re grossed out?
Well, life’s not for wimps.
Sometimes gods are gods
And sometimes they’re pimps.
Pasiphae
You want me to feel
ashamed point
fingers blame
the god responsible
for that beastly
possession
but you’ll get no
apology
from me no tears
no confession.
I know what I
know I know what
I see none of you
is that different
from me.
Buy the Book
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About the Author
DAVOD ELLIOTT’s last novel in verse for young adults, Bull, garnered six starred reviews and was compared to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton. He is the award-winning author of other books for young readers, including the New York Times best-selling picture book And Here’s to You!, Baabwaa and Wooliam, In the Past, and the This Orq series. He currently lives in New Hampshire with his wife, Barbara, and their dog, Queequeg.
Learn more at davidelliottbooks.com
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