Echoes & Reflections
This poem was first published in Clamor in 2024 under a previous pen name.
This poem revisits Echo and Narcissus with a focus on awareness and redemption rather than the usual cautionary approach. In the old story, Echo loses her voice to Juno and Narcissus loses himself to a reflection shaped by divine whim. Both are caught in a cosmos ruled by mercurial gods who twist the fates of mortals for their own amusement.
Here, the attention shifts to what might emerge if etiquette, compassion, and understanding took root instead. The damp leaves, the Dryad laughter that ripples through the foliage, and the still lagoon create a setting where both characters can see beyond their burdens. Echo regains her voice and Narcissus discovers a regard for others hidden beneath the surface of his myth.
This version lets them step away from the pit of eternal doom and glimpse a moment of shared clarity. It highlights their humanity, their longing for something gentler, and the possibility that even figures shaped by tragedy can find a spark of connection when the kosmos pauses its cruelty.
To Infinity: The Depths of a Scorpio
This poem was first published in Clamor in 2024 under a previous pen name.
This piece descends into the frostbitten gates of Pluto and the shadowed domain of Scorpio, a realm shaped by fire, power, and quiet revelation. The images of the scorpion, the phoenix, and the jet black expanse of the 8th house reflect a journey through hidden depths and transformative trials. In this landscape, Mars stands beside Pluto, each shaping the inner world with courage, desire, and the demand for truth.
Here, familiar symbols of myth and astrology merge into a single path. Cerberus guards the unseen threshold, Heracles wrestles with ancient avatars, and the phoenix rises from its own ashes, mirroring the cycles of death and rebirth that define Scorpio’s nature. The poem lingers in these shadowed corridors not to dwell on darkness, but to reveal the strange beauty and quiet power that thrive there.
This retelling does not treat Scorpio as a warning or a cliché. Instead, it explores the hidden virtues behind the sign’s fierce reputation. The piece embraces the paradox of a realm that welcomes both shadow and light, where transformation unfolds through struggle, insight, and the steady pull of the unseen. It is a tribute to those who move through the depths and emerge brighter, carrying the fire of renewal within them.