Gehinnom
by Sofia Kioroglou
The Pentelic marble Caryatid,
wearing a peplos pinned on each shoulder,
beckons a welcome to me at the British Museum.
She recognizes a fellow Greek patriot entering this gloomy place.
Stranded alone, suffocating in room 19,
she is immaculately attired and coiffed
(her hair is braided, falling in a thick rope down her back).
She waves her hands in a sweeping embrace.
The maiden of Karyai is weeping over her looted fate.
I try to wipe a tear from her eye.
"Not acting is conniving," she whispers in my ear.
Alas, one angry stare from her is worse than Gehinnom *
*Gehinnom is a small valley in Jerusalem and the Jewish and Christian analogue of hell.
lovely poetry happening here
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