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 an award-winning poet, performer, and advocate for the arts. She has been recognized with two Mayor’s Arts Awards and the Dr. Asha Bhargava Memorial Award — Community Champion. Shannon is the author of five poetry books and publishes Corridor, a free monthly poetry zine.
She lives in Bellingham, Washington.
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Thanks susanissima! Started reading Denise Levertov, an English/American poet, from the 50’s. She used the word “cock” in her poem and it was such a shock to my system, I tried my hand at it. …oh wait, that sounds funny. It’s a shocking word to some, but when I think about a FEMALE POET in the early 20th century using it, it gives it more power. Her awards: Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts, US & Canada, Robert Frost Medal, Lannan Literary Award for Poetry
shannon p. laws 
Beautiful!
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Thank you Dr Sweetyshinde!
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Wow!
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Thanks susanissima! Started reading Denise Levertov, an English/American poet, from the 50’s. She used the word “cock” in her poem and it was such a shock to my system, I tried my hand at it. …oh wait, that sounds funny. It’s a shocking word to some, but when I think about a FEMALE POET in the early 20th century using it, it gives it more power. Her awards: Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts, US & Canada, Robert Frost Medal, Lannan Literary Award for Poetry
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