iphigenia the strong

how would you feel
if the gods demanded
that you
slay your own child
your perfect beautiful strong daughter
who would have done anything for you
married any hero
any rival kingdom's scion
would have given her own life
did
give
her own life
willingly
and without a whimper
without a sigh
anything
to help
you
(worthy or not)

you
who foolishly angered a goddess
how would you feel
if your pride and boasting
led to your own child's demise
I could tell you how it feels

but I can't
speak
when I think
of my perfect daughter
on the altar
bare breasted
neck stretched for the knife
I had to look away

so I don't know if it's true
what they say
about the deer
and about my perfect lovely daughter
transformed
into a goddess
I just don't know
for sure
(I am a coward)

but I can believe it
because I know Artemis
(I never had time for the gods before this but the women in my family are crazy about these things)
I believe that she is no petty, jealous goddess
golden apples never meant anything to her
can't eat them
(she always preferred green ones straight from the tree still sun-warm)

she just wanted my perfect daughter
for herself
I think
(wise brave strong who wouldn't want Iphigenia for themselves)
she is a goddess after all
and
she had a good excuse
(that I gave her)
because I was a foolish prideful
mortal
man
and injured her pride

dear daughter
lovely strong daughter
is it you
who stands at the crossroads
in the dark of the moon
ruling over magic and women
carrying your perfect wisdom
to heaven?

or did I send you to hell?

I hope I never see you again, dear daughter
because
hell
is where
I am going