Do you see this young man over there?
His skin shows luster
Light bronze that relishes the sun and the wind
And invites a woman’s touch
His hair is gold
Molten and not yet fixed in any shape
Eyes are sharp flint
Precise, determined
He was a boy yesterday
But today
He is a man
Strong arms that hold shield and sword,
Bow and arrow
And a heart that desires glory
He will find his own wars
And his challenges call to him already
Speaking lions, angry serpents, devious women
And other schemes the gods designed
Hail a hero’s heart!
This flitting humming bird gem
With endlessly intricate, delicate wings

[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.]