Greek Mythology, Shakespeare . . . and Bruno Mars

"so much of what i see reminds me of something i read in a book" (or in this particular quote's case - a movie), so it's not surprising that the songs i've been enjoying from bruno mars remind me of . . . william shakespeare and classical mythology.

random literary association #1: bright eyes

"Oh, her eyes, her eyes make the stars look like they're not shining." - "Just the Way You Are"

"Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return." - Romeo & Juliet
(not to mention "She doth teach the torches to burn bright")


random literary association #2: rock vs. rock

Sisyphus eternally pushes a rock up a hill in Classical Mythology as punishment for his hubris.

Bruno Mars eternally pulls a piano around a city, to accompany lyrics about his willingness to suffer for someone else. While the self-centered ancient may have to push a rock, the self-sacrificing singer actually rocks.

Cold's Comfort

that heart is not beating

merely shivering

quivering

in icy fear,

imp of impossible frights

and ignorant oddities

shaking in its boots—a cage

of ribs hard as sin

cold as shoulder

turned hard, tilted

toward terror

willfully gloomy—why?

not feel the fire

fetch the sun

from the father, farther

farther

fountains of light

flurries of flame

flickering bodies in the night

striding, guiding

passing, swaying

surrounded

compounded

cold’s comfort

come farther

fans fanning flame

speak the Name.

warning

A scream raging –

singer’s shrill through dark, flashes

blows hard and long

thick upon the windshield of the skull,

blinding fleshy eyes,

rocking plush, pillow heart

like spinning on ice

into control

each gorgeous revolution

drenched in flake

upon flake

white and

pure as the blood

of Christ

—insulation—

His piercings

her dreadlocks

limbs flying

mosh moving

frozen souls

thawed in blizzards

of sound

bass

bass

beat

wintry breezes

pump, pump, breathe

annually appropriate alliteration

"winter weather awoke in the world without"
- Sir Gawain & the Green Knight

Fruit of the Spirit

I want to be an orange

Plump, bright and bursting

Juicy droplets, gently pressing

‘gainst my veins

in perfect physics

force upon force

Humming softly with contentment

Peel-free but unburstable

Pump me up

Flush the drought of doubt

From my veins

Make me percolate,

Still with

Your humming,

Taut with

Your movement,

A lightning rod for

You