The 12 Labors of Heracles

written as an example for our Greek myth unit poetry project

Alcemena and Zeus produced me, the greatest hero the world ever knew
Hera - insulted by the tryst and my success – her jealousy and anger grew.
She drove me insane, I killed my children and sought advice my tail tucked.
A slave to cousin Eurystheus and his impossible tasks, heroism – unforeseen by-product.

The Nemean Lion with impenetrable skin, I must end its terrible reign
I squeezed it death with my godly-great strength, its impervious hide I did gain.
From the dread, dreary darkness slithered a sinister hydra, venom misting from each hissing head
Nine times did I slice, then (to stop the re-growth) I seared each nasty neck as it bled.
My cousin then told me to bring the back the boar of Erymanthus, not dead but alive.
I used cunning and strength to wrestle it home – then into an urn dear cousin did dive.
Stymphalian birds with deadly feathers of brass killed at will, whether animal or hero.
Under cover of lionskin I scared them to flight with a rattle ‘til left there were zero.
Over hills and through valleys, I patiently stalked. In fact, it took me nearly a year.
Gentle skill and great care paid off in the end when I returned with Artemis’ deer.
The stables of Augeas were fouled with dung, left filthy for years. Oh, dismay!
By changing the course of two raging rivers did I wash them out in only a day.
Hippolyta, warrior queen smitten with my Olympian build, gave me her girdle outright.
Foul Hera whispered a rumor, the Amazons attacked, and Hippolyta died in the fight.
Diomedes had trained his marvelous mares to eat any man that he felled.
I killed and fed him to his own horses and their wickedness was finally quelled.
Poseidon had set a raging bull upon Crete, it breathed fire and caused general alarm.
Without heed of its flame I grabbed the bull by its horns so it could cause no further harm.
Geryon, one monster man with three bodies on one pair of legs, and I engaged in battle.
I pierced him with my hydra-blood arrow and returned, victorious, with his cattle.
Unsatisfied, Hera added two labors to my penance, the first Hesperides apples three
Atlas picked them while I held up the world, then I tricked him ‘to giving them to me.
The final task - to deliver Cerberus from the realm of the dead
My cousin the coward, at sight of the beast, ordered it back to Hades instead.

Upon my success, my reputation enhanced, the greatest hero to ever live.
And Hera, relentless, angered by misfortune, more insanity her gift to give.
Sentenced by Zeus to serve three years hence at the feet of a belittling queen,
Humility learned and my punishment served, I adventure forth, my conscience clean.

© Jeff Wilson, 2009