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Aphelion Webzine features “Iphigenia’s Womb.”

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I’m quite happy to say that the good folks over at Aphelion Webzine today featured my poem, “Iphigenia’s Womb,” in their wonderful free online magazine for fantasy and science fiction fans. The poem can be found here:

http://www.aphelion-webzine.com/poetry/2015/06/IphigeniasWomb.html

“Iphigenia’s Womb” was first published over in Dead Snakes in January 2014.  I am grateful to Poetry and Filk Editor Iain Muir for allowing me to share it today in Aphelion, as it might now be enjoyed greater numbers of fans of Greek mythology.

The piece is an allegory to the death by burning of Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon.  He sacrificed her to the Gods to appease them after an offense, as the deities had sent strong winds to beach the Greek warships ready to set sail against Troy.  (Of course, the poem is also about other things.)

If the imagery of the burning girl bothers you, then consider this — there are various versions of the story.  In one, a giant bird appears from the heavens to dive down and rescue young Iphigenia clean away.  It’s the kind of deus ex machina we occasionally see from winged saviors in fantasy; think of both the eagles in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” as well as the wayward seagull in Richard Adams’ “Watership Down.”  (“WHERE’S YOUR WHITE BIRD, *NOW*, BIGWIG?!?!”)

Thanks again to Mr. Muir and the Aphelion community!  🙂

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13 thoughts on “Aphelion Webzine features “Iphigenia’s Womb.””

  1. Watership Down was one of our favorite books growing up. Both my brothers and I read it and loved it. My eldest brother, Chris, named it, “Bunnyquest.” That’s what we’ve called it for years.

    Poor Fiver. ♡

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    1. It has been on my list for years!! I am precisely the sort of Philistine who has seen and loved the animated film, but who has not yet read the source material. The movie was a major influence on my novel (intelligent animals with a unique culture, without being heavily anthropomorphized.) I’ve talked about it in a couple of interviews. 🙂

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      1. YOU HAVEN’T READ BUNNYQUEST?????

        Get off the internet now, my friend, go back in time, and read it when you were about 10 years old. Ten is a good age – still believe in wonders, and the possible good nature of the world, yet jaded enough not to believe in Santa Claus.

        It’s a great book, at that. The movie does it justice, though, especially for those wacky dream sequences and bunny lore / origin stories.

        Fiver!!! BigWig!!! Hazel!!! They find the promised land, then have to go rustle up some females! !

        I freaking love that book. Homg the library is closed now, or I’d get out of my comfy chair and go get it.

        Well, I’d have to pile the kids in the car, and they are both asleep. So maybe not.

        But homg you have to read it! !! I demand it.

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      5. Sorry I called your ass sorry.

        Ppbpblt!!! Haha!!! I had such a rough week, and then all this bullshit with church, ugh. I’m just punchy. Why are you awake? It’s late on the east coast.

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      7. Um, there was an annual meeting today, and there were budget discussions and board members elected, that sort of thing.

        And they didn’t have child care, and I wanted to stay, and it was a fiasco, because LG is a 4 year old boy, who is energetic and incapable of sitting still.

        So I got some dirty looks and comments from folk. I also got a lot of help with the kids. I wrote a post about it today.

        Have you tried decaf? Exercise? Acupuncture? Meds? I’m sorry. I’m falling asleep. …. I gotta go.

        Talk with you tomorrow? Yep yep.

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  3. Reblogged this on Readsalot and commented:
    Wow, that was some very powerful imagery, Eric!
    It was both sad and disgusting. How heart wrenching it must be. Better to burn yourself after an act like that-damned be your intentions.
    You have a talent for poetry. I will have to check out more of your work. Hopefully, you have had a chance to check out DM Yates’ poem on Wattpad. I believe you two are kindred spirits in these endeavors.

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