How To Save My Skin

How To Save My Skin
© Surazeus
2025 01 13

"Though Goddess of the Moon gave me advice 
to avoid going to my memory 
for shelter from the storms of current sorrows, 
I seek respite in reliving my days 
when I was younger and more innocent." 
Syrinx hides among hollow water reeds. 

Creeping slowly along the river shore, 
Comus grins as he tries to find the nymph. 
"Smell of your skin perfumed with pungent flowers 
excites my heart to hold you in my arms. 
If you accept me, I will crown you queen 
when I lead the wild revelries of Bacchus." 

"My memories cannot save me from his lust, 
but they instruct me how to save my skin 
when I speak truths strange to me with my mouth 
in riddles even the Sphinx cannot solve." 
Wind rustles reeds with eerie whistling sound 
as slanting sunrays cast her shadow far. 

Wading waist-deep in sparkling river flow, 
Syrinx reaches for fruit too far away 
till shout from Comus startles her alert, 
so she sinks her body in silent glow. 
Emerging from the river far downstream, 
she runs with shadow of her wordless fear. 

Pausing by lake near camp of Artemis, 
Syrinx stares at reflection of her face. 
"How does my face attract those greedy men 
who seek to control my womb for their gain?" 
Loneliness chills her heart with the soft wind 
that ripples waves from stone of her despair. 

Standing tall again in red sunset glow, 
Syrinx grins at how long her legs have grown, 
till Comus snatches her around the waist 
and grips her tight as she writhes to escape. 
"Accept me as your husband, gentle nymph, 
for I will breed Satyrian gods with you." 

Gasping for breath as she grips a tree branch, 
Syrinx births incarnation of King Comus 
while everyone congratulates her state 
as queen, but she plots how she can escape, 
leaving Satyrus as she runs away, 
to hide again among the river reeds. 

"Attempting to escape from hands of death, 
I generated life in hungry child 
sired by the cruel monarch I most despise." 
Sitting under her favorite apple tree, 
Syrinx plays eerie mercurial tunes 
on panpipes to soothe anguish of her heart.