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TITLE: Why are serpents entwined on the caduceus? | Previous Challenge Entry
By dub W
11/02/06
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Why are serpents entwined on the caduceus?
Has Apollo given over Asklepios to history
Or have his nurses Ahygeia and Panacean
Betrayed the trust, there hence the mystery.
Can a Greek find hope in this medicine
Can a Greek god cleanse away the sin?

Asklepios, does the serpent strike your staff?
Has your mother Koronis joined you in the sky
Or have the consolations simply ignored you
Perhaps the name Ophiuchus is fitting nigh.
Can a Greek find home in this medicine
Can a Greed god cleanse away the sin?

Paion, are these gods your patients ?
Has Ophiuchus fallen under your spell
Or wounds of Ares and Hades healed
By chance the emperor fall if you tell.
Can a Greek find hope in this medicine
Can a Greek god cleanse away the sin?

Apollo will you sing the doctor’s song?
Has Thanatos entered into your heart
Or can your warring melody be persuaded
Make your hymns of battle now start.
Can a Greek find hope in this medicine?
Can a Greek god cleanse away the sin?

Apollo, Askepios, Alhygeia, and Panacean,
Koronius,Ares,Hades, and Ophiuchus,
Thanatos and a host of Greek mythology
Just like serpents entwined on the caduceus
Lost to the One who cures in medicine
The One who came to cleanse away sin.

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This article has been read 1886 times

Member Comments

Member

Date

Cyndie Odya-Weis

11/09/06

I never thought about all of this before and I feel enlightened. The poetry format distracted me a bit though.

11/10/06

Enjoyed reading the poem. But one suggestion. Why not mention the Brazen serpent, a prefigure of the Lord Jesus Christ, a figure giving life and health to the plague-stricken Israelites?

11/13/06

Made me want to know more--I loved the repeated couplets, changed in the last stanza. Very effective.

11/13/06

Please post more of your poems at Poetry and Poets of God:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/poetryandpoetsofgod/

11/13/06

Definitely gave me much food for thought! I did NOT find the poetry aspect distracting - in fact, I think it helped me to follow. Excellent structure for this piece.

Marilyn Schnepp

11/14/06

Great for mythologists, I would assume.

11/15/06

Very interesting and a well written poem. I enjoyed reading this. Thanks for sharing it.

Dennis Fletcher

11/15/06

Well written, very enjoyable poem. I liked the way you ended each stanza.

Betty Castleberry

11/15/06

This really made me think. The rhyme is near perfect. Well done.

11/15/06

Quite simply: I bow to your knowledge. I took a course on Greek Mythology years ago and, in your poem, I'm lost without a road map! That having been said, the last two couplets of each stanza I CLEARLY GOT! This piece made me stretch a bit....which we all need from time to time. I LOVE the word caduceaus! When I find out what it means I'm gonna use it....somehow. In the second stanza, third line, did you mean "constellations" (excuse the spelling) or "consolations?" Good work raising the bar! Your thoughts are higher than my thoughts!

11/15/06

Indeed, who is like our God? (1Corinthians 8:5-6). Wonderfully done.

11/16/06

Verily, this doth raise the bar for other poets. Who else can "classically" meet your standard here? You get a serpent entwined DAVEY for this one.

11/17/06

Hi Dub! I judged this entry and wanted you to know it fascinated me. Awesome work. It placed high on my tally sheet. :-)