I agree with Janet Marie; yer so kewl and so is your poem Mike.

enjoyed it very much and it's wonderful to read you again.

More is good

Maree

fate is not just
whose cooking  smells good
but which way the wind blows

(Ani DiFranco)

I love your choice of subject.  Medusa is a perfect example, isn't she?  Once beautiful and proud, but transformed by Athena for making whoopie in her temple.  

But she, as you say, found a new pride.  I don't know either, how she could overcome shame and stare back and turn people into stone... but it's truly thought-provoking... we turn our most hated and loathesome elements into objects of pride... we gloat them, we stare back at people and turn them to stone because THAT is our pride, despite our ugliness.

What do you mean by "part of no aegis" though?  I mean, I'm familiar with the fact that Medusa's head was put at the center of the Aegis once she was slain, but how does that apply to people in general?  Maybe I'm not looking deep enough, forgive me if that's so...

You're right.  We dare to cling to fallible joys.  And like Medusa, we're going to lose them, and suffer the consequences.

Oh so nicely done, Mikey... you see?  Nobody can do this but you... and it's so, so nice to have you back.

Parasite

Faith is a fine invention
When gentlemen can see
But microscopes are prudent
In an emergency.
~~~Emily Dickinson