Ariadne, Slipping: An Ode
Jun 26, 2023
To princesses whose crowns
constellate.
To Iustitia, sans scale
or blindfold.
To all the women
who make others famous.
To nymphs who stay awake
to blur lines
To witches who give
porridge to peasant girls.
To mothers who forget
the magic words.
To family trees full
of marbled matriarchs.
To choose between food
and freedom.
To be painted —
instead of sculpted.
To pose is to live
forever.
To lose balance is to learn
how not to find it.
Tolu Ogunlesi © 2023
First appeared online here
