(Poem about Iphis and Ianthe from the story in Ovid’s Metamorphoses Book 9)
Love Transcends.
(Iphis and Ianthe)
A raging fire burned
loves flames kindled
elicited by your beauty
innocence in despair
knowing this love
betrothed in ignorance
by a loving father
unaware of deceit
by a loving mother
accepting the truth
of the prophecy of Isis.
The Gods frowning
a Sapphic love
not yet countenanced
there should not be
girl with girl.
My desires
my beautiful Ianthe
that you be man
or even I
to consummate
to bring purity
for our love desires.
True love triumphs
above all foolishness
love is much more
than decreeing
the genders
of who has
madness to love
or to lie with
their desired bride.
Decreed by Isis
our troth fulfilled
I’m now man
rendered by Goddess
for satisfaction
of the Gods
and families.
Yet! my beautiful Ianthe
our love transcends
Gods, Goddess and Gender.
©Carol Robson 2013
