Poseidon took advantage

Along with the woman's will

And did as he pleased

In Athena's temple still.

 

This is how Athena found them

Disgracing her pride

And thus her anger grew

To a dangerous size.

 

Reconciliation will come about naught:

As for Athena and Poseidon,

It stormed as they fought.

But Poseidon was immortal,

And Athena was too,

So she took her wrath out on

The poor maiden in lieu.

 

Athena's wrath, a sight to behold

Was filled with pain, wonder, and horror untold.

She cursed poor Medusa

With one angry breath

And the poor woman's fate

Was one worse than death.

 

Her hair became snakes,

And for Athena's final blow

Whoever gazed upon her

Would become solid stone.

 

Medusa hid away,

Terrified of herself

Terrified of the others

But they were soon stone, nothing else.

 

Secluded in her cave,

Her story spread far and wide,

And tales of this horror

Were popularized.

 

When a mighty hero was challenged

To take Medusa's head,

He finally agreed,

Naught but the god's gifts he held stead.

 

Perseus traveled

To her cave in the hills

The silence was deafening.

Time seemed to come to a standstill.

 

It was there he took her head.

He ended the cursed maiden's life.

He tricked her with a shield

And his terrible knife.

 

There her headless body bled,

Weak and limp.

A gift or two was left, though,

Unto this earth from her remains

The calibered presents certainly not taken in vain.