Milkweed Poem by Barry Middleton
Milkweed
Hiding in the tall grass,
was a thing the children never saw.
We were too young
to know the secret of the milkweed.
Perhaps a god of healing,
or evil deadly serpents waited there.
I ventured into the field,
but never so far to solve the mystery.
A mortal son hid there,
where the snake gave up its secrets.
Entwined along his staff,
resurrected fear and doubt endures.
A lesson learned,
to dare not open up the underworld.
Entwined along his staff, resurrected fear and doubt endures.//Which is the subject of ''entwined''and which of '' resurrected''
Then the comma after staff must be wiped out and instead the comma an ''and'' must be used, or this way: Entwined- along his staff-and resurrected fear and doubt endures.
Resurrected is used as an adjective not a verb. On Asclepius's staff is entwined a snake. Here the snake represents fear and doubt to me. Resurrected fear and doubt endures thus entwined along his staff.
'and doubt endures'.- At first let me ask if ''endures'' is here a verb.If it is should an ''and'' connect it with a past tense [resurrected]?
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/1/2024 7:43:03 PM # 1.0.0.1119
No one, even in ancient times, knows for sure what a role played the sacred snakes in Asclepios shrines.In Epidaurus, under the floor of the main round building the Tholos [ you can see in my album] there was a maeander construction where the sacred snakes were kept.There has been made a lot of researces what was it and what for.If I find english text on the matter I'll send you the link.Some I have read prove that in the construction of the Tholow it is a whole scintific picturing of the knowledge-especially mathematic ones- the ancients had about the universe But -to refer only at Epidaurus-which was the greatest medical center of Asclepios with a few words let me say first that it was for 2000 years [from 1300 b.d. - 495 a.d.] an open medical center for everyone.Chirourgical operation were exercised too, especially to remove from eyes the katarract.Speciallized were also on mendal illnesses.They use even the music and the theatrical performances for the therapy.//Let me refer to two more details.The stone theater and the stadion built on 360 b.d. functioned for 850 years without any interruption.The 'hotel' for the winter was the greatest ever of the ancient world with its 160 rooms could host more 1500 persons.Its restorant more than 1000.Its baths more than 50 per time......///Anyway I do find the poem with its mystery hidden behind the words and its coclusion a real poem.You know sometimes poems have not to say everything with the language of reason.For them the language of ambiguity is better to cause the impression the poet thinks and wants them to caause.
The snake was supposedly immortal because of shedding its skin =This is what ancient used as an explanation too.//''The children and Asclepius both learned the lesson.''You are quite right here and That is the poem's GRACE.
The little I have read on it said that the snake whispered in Asclepius's ear the secrets of healing and raising people from the dead. I never worry about the accuracy of myth interpretation because I am going to put a different spin on it anyway. The snake was supposedly immortal because of shedding its skin. Asclepius was killed by Zeus because of bringing people back from the Underworld. I use the whole thing to reflect on children who delve too deeply into mystery. The children and Asclepius both learned the lesson.