Leda Lays an egg
One morning Leda, sitting on the lawn,
Saw Zeus appear transmogrified to swan.
She heard too late the honks and wing-made whir,
And so with godly force he conquered her.
(Some skeptics say she could have scratched and howled
But found it rather novel to be fowled.)
Well, anyhow, not losing a single feather,
He got his complicated act together
And wickedly deflowered the hapless maid,
Who after several months then birthed —or laid —
An egg. ( I’m not demented; I don’t lie,
As many ancient Greeks will testify.)
And then as if this weren’t enough disaster,
That dreadful egg held twins: Pollux and Castor.
(2002)
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