The Swan And Me Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon
The Swan And Me
Its touch so sensuous
Its eyes drawing me into itself
Its body snuggling in mine
Rousing a passion yet unknown
Slowly it dawned on me
He is no ordinary swan
He is no swan at all
Then what, nay, who is he?
His golden feathers
Gleaming eyes
And voice profound-
Did tell a story different…
His lips reaching up to my ears
Whispered, 'Leda, I'm Zeus!
May I take my own shape
So you'd believe…'
'No' I cried. How can I
The queen of Sparta
Be seen nude with a man
Be it Zeus himself!
And I wanted to fly
On his golden wings
Over Mount Olympus
I was already his…
(2)
The touch of his body
His lips on mine
Webbed feet on my navel
Mounting passion
I remember nothing
I lay in the poolside bath
Tired as a dead log
Unable to move a limb
But his mere thought
Roused me again
Kindled my passion
Longing for him yet again
(3)
My husband Tyndareus
The king of Sparta
Who'd not touched me
For the one month past
I went to his harem-
With many a concubine
Where he slept
All spent and tired
All those girls I threw out
For, through the night
I wanted to be alone
With him, till day broke
Never did I allow him sleep
Throughout the night
For my passion rose
Whenever I thought of Zeus
My hunger I wanted to sate
But I wanted to give him
A night to remember
So he'd never suspect
Whenever I longed
Zeus did come to me
Always as the swan
In the form I wanted him.
(4)
With swan I have slept
Not a human any longer?
For, two eggs I laid
And waited to hatch
The first one hatched
Out came twins both male
Reminded me of Zeus
I was sure, they were his
My heart longed for him
My body for his touch
Out came Zeus
To see his babies
The other egg hatched
I had another pair of twins
Were they borne to Zeus
Or me husband, the king?
(5)
But my desire was else
And he knew it well
His passionate hug
With his feathered arms
His lips searching mine
My body aching for his
I was his yet again
Never sated, never again.
There are many versions of this story.
There is a version that Zeus raped Leda taking the shape of Swan. This was the version adopted by Michaelangelo in his painting.
But the painting by Leonardo Da Vinci I have posted here depicts a different story. I have opted this version.
Bri's latest comment: Actually, Bri had pointed out this printing error long, long back. You can read this comment on ph if you search. At that point, I suggested that we'd let it stay. If I remember right, he had agreed
Comment by Bri Edwards 08 Nov 2023 11: 22 Re The Swan And Me: I DO find my comments and your comments on them. I commented more, including this: '(cont.) In response to one of my comments on what I think you called a 'printing error', WHY do you use 'we', not 'I', several times? Hmm? bri : ) ' : )
(cont.) In response to one of my comments on what I think you called a 'printing error', WHY do you use 'we', not 'I', several times? Hmm? bri : )
Bri, you had made comments on the poem on 26 June 2017 and 25 November 2022. You had pointed out this error on 25 November 2022. I looked for my reply to your comments. But couldn't locate…
In answer to your replies to my comments...plus: Yes, my eyes sometimes are deficient, but maybe not so here. I just saw my naked wife & SHE looks very much like your illustration (NOT) . (cont.)
‘ According to later Greek mythology, Leda bore Helen and Polydeuces, children of Zeus, while at the same time bearing Castor and Clytemnestra, children of her husband Tyndareus, the King of Sparta, says Wikipedia
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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12/6/2023 12:46:13 AM # 1.0.0.1118
You painted your own painting with your beautiful words....very nicely done. Annette
My gratitude to you, Annette for the words of appreciation. Thank You
Thank you Annette. Ever obliged..
Thank You Annette, for the words of appreciation. Loved it.