Oh, Nymph!
He called me Calypso
Of course it was to lure me
Into a false sense of security–
Give the virgin an exotic name,
Mercilessly entrap
In a veil of deceit,
Convince me of
My uniqueness–
That fascinating quality
That failed to exist.
He called me Calypso
A master stroke
To use myth against me
Play on the puny
Ego resting in my breast
Hold me to his conceit
Spoonfeed me
And let me gorge–
Being a student
Of literature
He called me Calypso
Full-knowing I would fall
Into his arms
And into his bed
Or rather, onto
The crushed-velvet couch
In the green room
Of the radio-station
On campus
He called me Calypso…
Until his Circe came.
Kathleen Mortensen ©2008
3-5-3, 3-7-5 
Ah, another silver-tongued rogue takes advantage of a doe-eyed maiden! How long did Circe last in his arms?
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I remember my students loving that sandy
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This poem has emotion and power. Reading this, I feel anger, and hope, and pain, and … misused. Thanks for sharing this.
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Bravo…two thumbs up!! Most enjoyable…I wish I could have it gilded on a poster with the painting for my room! By chance where you a kisser of the blarney stone?…Lol…Love you Kat!
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Excellent! I like it stylistically and it puts the reader into your shoes quite effectively.
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Seems to me the masterstroke here is this poem … wow … I really love it … from the first line to the last … wonderful!
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Ah! GB, there were far too many Circe's and a few more “Calypsos”, I'm sure.Sandy – yes, as a student, I enjoyed the Myths – and The Odyssey in particular.Cirellio, if I have made you feel all those things, then you have tread my path and I have accomplished something.Thanks, Courtney – Yes, I have indeed kissed the “Stone”. This, however, is no blarney. I only wish it were.Thank you STP – praise from you means much.Fenny – coming from you, a woman and a great poet, your comments will be held in my heart for a long time.
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I really enjoyed this, Kat. Bravo, well done! May this poem's light pale in comparison to all your future writing, though I can't remember a poem I've enjoyed as much as this in a very long time.
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Beautiful writing.
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Well done.
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Wow this is amazing You have a way with words. You excellently put down a character I came along when I was young as well.
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Thank you all. Digging a little deeper these days, so expect some more introspection, but I will try to temper it with my usual light-hearted fare.Kat
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Very poignant. I felt a sense of loss along the way.
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Just remember this: You learn something from everyone – even the assholes.
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Yes, Linda – a loss indeed, but that was long ago now.BD, How very true – perhaps even more from the a-holes than the others.Kat
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Katherine, this is good, really good. Poetry is a land of mystery and magic. Thanks for sharing.
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