I saw her rising out of chaos, her emerald green eyes fixed on me, her mountainous bosom bare and long cascading curls of earthy brown billowing, held down only by a wreath of lavender, like a crown on her regal head.  She smiled and I was smitten. But when with her lips, warm and welcoming she kissed me, I became hers completely.

We had children, many.  I couldn’t get enough of her.  Neither she of me, for a while.  She liked my eyes, she said.  She called them stars because they sparkled, especially in the dark.

It was our children that undid us in the end.  Some beautiful, some cunning, some terrible and all strong, I hid those that were deformed, cruel and depraved.  I didn’t want her to see.  I was protecting her, I thought.  But therein was my mistake.  She was their mother; she loved them all.  She found out and despaired.  In her agony, she turned leaves from jade to ruby, then fell from trees like rusty tears.   She turned her back on me after that even though I’m always here, waiting with my arms open, craving her embrace.

Gaia, love

Look up, subdue my endless yearning

Love me as before

—

This week I write after almost a week and a half of posting absolutely nothing.  My work schedule was – is – crazy, but I did manage a to mix a little work and play when I sneaked to Stockholm for a business trip last week – and that is one charming city!

Last challenge I took up before this one was the Trifextra – What does Summer mean to Trifectans.  I did my post, but then forgot to link up! So if you want to see it at all, you can just click here; My Mediterranean Summer.

For this week, since it’s been so long, I have joined together two challenges: Trifecta with the word Rusty and Līgo Haibun where this week we celebrate nature and incorporate two pictures into our post.

It was difficult, but I thought I needed the challenge after such a long break from writing — I didn’t want to get rusty *ultra exaggerated wink and double nudge*

As for my post, all my research into the mythology behind the piece came from my favourite encyclopaedia but still I ignored most of the page (I hope Herodotus is not turning in his grave!)  As for you, I hope you like the piece.