Metamorphoses Ode to Ovid / Saschia Johnson

Part I 

The divine woman rose from the dust of her fallen father and grandfathers.  

Her naked body warm and beating with life. Her hair so long it brushed the ground she walked on.  

She was gifted with bliss from her fathers who watched from below and begged Hades for her happiness.  

She wandered the woods and fell upon a man, a woodsman.  

He was skilled in his craft; she admired him so much.  

She wrapped her sun-kissed arms around him and expressed her love for him.  

He, a married man, could not tell such a divine beauty the word “no.” So, he promised to love her till the end of days, but she had to remain in the woods and he’d return to her every day.  

She, in her bliss, obliged.  

She spent her days singing with the birds gathering Lady Caps and wading in the hidden waters.  

Her fathers looked up with a nod to see their daughter so happy and healthy.

It didn’t matter that the woodsman was married so long as their daughter was singing in her own true nature.  

The woodsman was consistent with his visits and built her great chairs and shelters with workmanship more beautiful than the materials. He brought chocolates, and wines, and loved her more than he loved his own wife and children.  

Part II 

One day, a king’s knight entered the woods. He fell upon the divine beauty who had invested herself in the woodsman.  

“What are you doing living in these woods?  Where are your clothes?” he asked.  

Now, the fathers below heard the knight’s words fall upon her and they begged Hades to send knight and his questioning out of the forest.  

But Hades felt she had been hidden long enough and refused their pleas.  

“Naked?” she asked.  

“If there was something I needed my skilled woodsman would have brought it to me.”  

He replied, “Your woodsman hasn’t warned you what could come if you lived out here naked with no protection? Do you know our enemy is coming? They will be charging these woods soon.”  

“Enemy? I know no such thing.  My woodsman will bring me what I need.” She returned to her birds and flowers and wines and chocolates.  

He stayed with her, remaining hidden.  

While they were in the woods, the enemy fell upon the woodsman’s town.  

He, his wife, and family were slaughtered. After the massacre of that town the army took stance and defeated them.  

The divine woman awaits her woodsman, unaware of his slaughter.  

“It has been three days; your woodsman has not returned.” The knight revealed himself.  

“What will you do?” he asked.  

The fathers below cried out to Hades “Please, Hades send him away.  Don’t arouse her curiosity anymore. Allow her to remain in the woods till she rests in peace.”  

Hades with the view of history behind his eyes concedes to their wishes.  

The knight is summoned by honored servants to return to the dying king’s bedside.  

The divine woman knew that her woodsman was safe. In her bliss, she assumed he was awaiting her to join him.

So, she began her journey out of the woods.  

The fathers below watched on in horror as their daughter, ignorant and naked, wandered toward the massacred town. They begged Hades once again, “Please keep her in the woods, please send the soldier back to her.”  

Hades said, “It is you who have kept your daughter in darkness. It is you who begged me to rid her protection. Now, you will see the weight of your desires.”  

The divine woman with no name stepped out of the woods.  

Part III 

Her hair weaved with Lady Caps, her skin glowed from bathing in the hidden waters.  

Her eyes were set upon her woodsman.  

Her heart as pure as a heart could be.   

She walked toward the town.  

Some of the enemies with sores that wept were on their way by foot to return to their king.  

They, with bitter and tired hearts, noticed her emerge from the woods.  

In their bitterness they raped and beat the divine woman to death. Her glow dimmed.  

Her hair cut short with flowers scattered about.  

The fathers below grieved the loss of their daughter.  

They begged Hades to do something.  

Hades, who felt for the girl once again, sent the knight to find her body.  

The knight was immediately stricken with grief and wailed at the sight of her battered body. The birds gathered and mourned the loss of their dear friend.  

He buried her in the king’s garden. The birds of the forest moved their nests to be once again in her presence. The flowers she picked and weaved into her hair were dropped as seedlings from the birds’ wings. And in her honor, Hades turned the waters to flow toward her.  

The knight vowed from that day on to never leave such an innocent being’s side again. A day of celebration was organized by the knight.  

A memorial to the divine woman of the woods.  

Because of him, the kingdoms to come would celebrate this day in the garden forever more.  

 

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