the mirror of theseus

theseus long gone comes back to athens sailing
on his enchanted ship whose every plank
and nail has been replaced by its smart crew
whether it was the curse of ariadne
or the approach of the old age that had
spooked the great hero worried for his looks
along the way he kept replacing parts
of his own frame now fitting the eye-holes
with a new pair of peepers now attaching
new legs all parts supplied by his true father
poseidon fresh from his subaqueous stock
dashing and thus refurbished theseus is
ready to face his future subjects who
are waiting at the pier garbed in their best

he tries the soil with an unsteady foot
when suddenly the crowd pulls back in horror
some point at him some take to flight a few
jump straight into the water and endeavor
to swim away until the only one
left on the pier is a young maiden who
death-pale steps forth and proffers him a mirror

what he observes is something that his crew
is now accustomed to the scaly maw
protruding from below the far receded
forehead with two serrated rows the eyes
coal-red aflame with an uncommon evil
under the bony arches and the hand
reflected by the brass is studded with
sharp talons silently he backs away
towards his ship taking the mirror with him

oh athens barely seen and never ruled
must he retrace the watery course in search
of his long lost identity fat chance
his erstwhile limbs are buried in the bellies
of sharks his very face its every inch
consumed by some vile vermin is no more
the ship is wandering far beyond the pillars
of hercules under the cot the box
is safely locked where he still keeps his mirror
with its dread scowl indelibly engraved