The Ludovisi Dionysus with panther, satyr and grapes on a vine (Palazzo Altemps, Rome) Dionysus: God of the Grape Harvest, Wine-making, Wine, Ritual Madness, Religious Ecstasy, Fertility and Theatre.
Three years the poem
of your body, of my
eyes upon your body
of my hands reading
each muscle—
Stroking, sweeping the
scent in the rite of
worship, going down
from the beat of a neck
vein, along broad shoulders,
twisted hair trail,
belly to cock.
For three years that poem, unwritten,
trapped in my mind, not wanting to
share that I lie with Dionysus,
fear that women would take my treasure
or a god, hearing my boast, would end you
~SPL
Ariadne is abandoned in Naxos, not knowing she will become the wife of mighty Dionysus Painting by John William Waterhouse
Shannon Laws is a poet, producer, and advocate for the arts. She is the recipient of the Village Books Literary Citizenship Award, with two Mayor’s Arts Awards and the Dr. Asha Bhargava Memorial Award — Community Champion. Shannon is the author of four poetry books, one poetry album and publishes Corridor, a free monthly poetry zine.
She lives in Bellingham, Washington.
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shannon p. laws 