Earlier this month, Manhattan, NY was gifted with a Luciano Garbati statue depicting Medusa (of Greek mythological fame) holding the severed head of her canon slayer Perseus.
The bastardization of lore was justified as “a symbol of triumph for victims of sexual assault,” according to the New York Times. Despite the noble intent, many among the targeted demographic are displeased by the statues Eurocentric appearance.
I give commentary with my new poem Garbati’s Medusa
Lyrics:
It’s a sad state of affairs
When one refuses to bear…the burden
of historical record
The hard earned wisdom from our ancestors ignored
Our retrospective obscured
For a pseudo-environment falsely secured
To the distortion of canon
Stands a monument in Manhattan
A bronze Medusa, who forewent her infamous glare
(Which stonified the best warriors to spare)
So she could single out Perseus’ flesh & bone head.
Now Danaë will be bound to Ploydectes’ bed
While judge Athena and rapist Poseidon roam free on Mt Olympus
Gone is the vindicatory nature of Chrysaor and Pegasus
But this is the fruit born by zero sum justice
And for all the themes the statue attempts to propagate
It would’ve paid to heed the ancients teachings on fate
As Medusa now stands stately for all the world to see
Those she means to serve…still… persecute her due to her own beauty
*Poem can be downloaded here
Video image by Syaibatul Hamdi from Pixabay