To the fairest you would give your highest praise
as if you could give them more
than they already gave themselves
Your apple, stinging as honey, is not just fruit
it is desire, hot as iron shoes, and so cold cold cold
as your blade bright smile

Eris, listen:
there is no kingdom with enough horses
or enough men
to put together again the pieces
that will fall from this like from a shattered golden egg once
the apple is given and devoured;
Only the black seeds will remain
innocent as bones

[In elementary school, Alexandra Seidel had a wonderful teacher who introduced her to the twelve labors of Hercules. This was the first Greek myth Alexandra ever read, and more followed later during five years of Latin at school, all of which left a deep impression on her mind and sometimes on her writing. Alexandra’s prose and poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in Star*Line, Labyrinth Inhabitant Magazine, New Myths and others. Every once or twice, Alexandra blogs. She is never quite sure about what. Better go see for yourself.]