Cursed
Svetlana Lapova

Lana Lapova, a Sophomore Biology major, wrote this paper for Dr. Wranovix’s Honors World Lit I class, where she assigned a creative writing piece about Greek literature. After CBU, Lana plans to study and work in the medical field or figure skate like Irina Slutskaya.

His crew betrayed him.  Searching for mariners, I spotted Circe whispering in his ear just before the voyage set sail.  He was the only man she ever warned of our cries, yet the only one who heard them. And now, thank Zeus for our kind, clever savior, we finally board a ship bound for the shores! I think to myself, “So many years we have craved this passage,” as I gaze at her fine hull slicing through these abhorred waves!

Our sisterhood lives as long as my memory travels.  No happier times exist than growing up at the riverbanks. Aunt Demeter called our father Achelous, but we knew him only as the rhythm of the rushing waters.  We came to understand his moods and paces, and spoke to him as the birds do – softly in the calm winds, louder at high tide – all in tempo with the current. And sweet Persephone, as she was like a sister and always near, drew the winged creatures our way with her charm and liveliness. The flocks enveloped us with melody, elegance, and beauty, and at the brink of our womanhood, Demeter gathered us to say, “You have surpassed their talents, and I shall entrust you now with a mission.” That moment ended all childhood bliss and cut our string of peace, as the waters raged and all creatures silenced. Hades himself had taken precious Persephone away to his gloomy palace.

Not losing a moment, we rushed to the spot where the Hell-god left behind our dear friend’s bouquet of yellow flowers; and beneath the quicksand, we sang for the Underworld souls in exchange for guidance to Persephone’s quarters.  We were unconscious of our powers then (having never had an audience), and as instructed by beloved Demeter, simply asked around for Persephone.  As we traveled deeper into the realms, our voices stilled fighting men and seduced even the most impassioned lovers to break their bond. The souls abandoned all their tasks; only their entranced fingers responded, pointing down to where we would find her. 

I won’t even begin to speak of the tears and sorrows we all suffered when Hades finally realized Persephone was back in her fields.  But this time Demeter wouldn’t let her go without a fight. I regret to not tell the end of the affair, but it is only because I know not what came of it. I only recall Hades’ steaming eyes lashing my sisters and me – apparently all hell muttered to him of our melodies.  He cursed his humiliation, and he cursed our fates.  That instant, a flash of lightning sprang from the ground like a vicious wolf leaping upon his prey, and its force struck our bodies. Over lands and seas, through the sharp winds, we were condemned to Circe’s isle. 

She never spoke to us.  She was stone-hearted indeed, transforming all those sailors into swine, but we thought all disregard for us resulted from our own hideousness.  Ironically, Circe became a daily reminder of our isolation. 

Our voices, too, were altered.  To each other, we sounded the same as always, but the curse changed the way sailors perceived our calls. Changed? No, this word is a lie, an understatement.  We learned of this only upon our first plea with sailors.  We tried to ask the shipmen to allow us passage, as our own wings would never last the exertion of a sea-voyage. How shocking it was, watching them jump into the icy ocean-waters to flee our voices!  They stayed underwater, swimming beneath their ship, guiding it away until our sight lost the foamy trail’s sketch. If men will become fish to evade our calls, how terrible must these screeching voice-boxes be?!

Thousands of subsequent attempts proved no different.  I could see my sisters growing bitter from being thus hated by the sailors, and myself hopeless from failed attempts.  Through all the days, we wished only to be home, to quit this miserable curse.

So no matter the wretchedness, each new ship briefly swept through our doubt.  Each new ship…each new ship…every new ship…

…Following fast, we reached a ship of crewmen playing a joke on Odysseus.  Apparently he related Circe’s warning to them, and they turned the information against him.  Their own ears plugged, the sailors tied Odysseus.  Unable to escape our horrid sound, he yelled and gasped, but he finally understood!! He wanted to help us escape this wretched island, bring us along to real shores! To trick his crew, he kept bawling. In his screams, he instructed us to stand on the masts, to cover his worn sails with our spread white wings – the seamen were too engaged with lashing him and tying his ropes that they never noticed a thing!  And so, we move gently past misery, as our shadows shall never more glide over these seas.         

Works Cited

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