Meg Sefton's Blog, page 25

Inktober: Angular

wither by Jessica Lucia, flickr

On a central Florida All Hollows’, an angular figure snatches me from my front stoop. We fly over my childhood home and I break off in rose petals and tears and aged orange peels. I lie in my old backyard until the next thinning of the veil when souls rise.

Influential Women: Sammuramat to Semiramis – From History to Myth

If you love myths, legends, history, folklore, I recommend the blog “Under the Influence.” The latest post is about a queen. It’s fantastic.

“The evolution of Queen Semiramis from Queen Sammuramat provided an example for other female rulers to follow. Her legendary and mythical status was achieved possibly because it was unusual in patriarchal societies for females to be allowed to shine or display their intelligence and talents. According to these traditions, she proved herself to be as good or better than males in her governing abilities, civil building works, and military prowess. This was unusual and may be part of the reason why she was elevated to such status. Her mystique and appeal lasted for centuries after her death and was the inspiration for many works in art and literature…
Over the ages her achievements became embellished and exaggerated and new stories emerged about her. In many ways the little that was known about her added to her mystique and after her death the myths and legends grew. In later times was held as a model for good female rulers who exhibited similar characteristic…such as Margret I of Denmark, and Catherine the Great of Russia who were called Semiramis of the North…”

Under the influence!

Semiramis– Cesare Saccaggi, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Queen Semiramis was a mythical queen who appears in many myths, legends, works of art and literature through the ages. She was was believed to have evolved from a real, historical QueenSammuramat who ruled the Neo-Assyrian Empire for a brief period. Here we look briefly what is known of the historical Queen Sammuramat and her transformation to the mythical, semi-divine, Queen Semiramis.

QUEEN SAMMURAMAT

Sammuramat ruled the Neo-Assyrian Empire in the ninth century after her husband, King Shamshi-Adad V, died until her young son Adad-nirari III came of age in 806 BC. It is not clear whether she ruled as regent or in some other capacity but it was only believed to have lasted for five years. According to the myths Semiramis ruled for 42 years as queen regnant but it is necessary to separate the historical from the…

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Inktober: Weak

Oi…Not good…by DanniLovesNarutoandGF, flickr

Do not let weakness discourage you. You will live on despite this frail body. Become a vampire if you must, metaphorically of course, feeding off the derring-do of the young. But if you must take it to a literal level, don’t advertise. We don’t want to know, but we understand.

Inktober: Clock

Broken Clock by Jim, the Photographer, flickr

“You know, Glock rhymes with clock,” she said. “As in, I’m going to shoot this clock with my Glock if it doesn’t stop keeping track of my age.”

She knew where the gun was kept and he regretted ever telling her about it.

Inktober: Guarded

On the Water Terraces at Blenheim Palace near Oxford by JR P, flickr

The brilliant French socialite, Gladys Marie Deacon, who inspired works of art by Boldini, Rodin, and Degas, and who married the Duke of Marlborough, became a guarded recluse because of a botched cosmetic surgery. Yet her last visitor to the insane asylum testified to her sharpness and quickness of wit.

Sleepy bees

Sleeping bees in a pumpkin flower by Hope Abrams, flickr

I figured out my blogging “bug” that I posted about yesterday. Turns out there was an issue with my not changing the settings. Since I have started engaging in Inktober, more posts appear on my initial page because of how short these posts have been. And so, I needed to increase the count for the number of posts that appear in the feed. So, mea culpa. The bees have the right idea here: Let’s go back to sleep. It is nice to know even lovely bees have a siesta. Enjoy your Saturday.

WordPress what gives

Kenny P., flickr

I happened to scroll down my posts and noticed quite a few posts are showing up again further down in the posting order. All of these posts should only appear in order at the top of the page as this is how they are designated in my settings. I have so little buzz today, WP. You wouldn’t try to harsh it? If I see a repeat of this darling bug further down in my posts, I may have to wonder if my blog is haunted by ghosts of posts past.

Inktober: Whale

roundabout by duncan c, flickr

I have two terrible memories of elementary school. One was of poor Leah, large as a whale, falling off the roundabout and all of us flying past, kicking her while she cried. The other was a nightmare around this time of a tiny bird dying because we stoned it.

Inktober: Cruel

closing time by sinkdd, flickr

It’s a cold October night, and you are watching your son play soccer. In the bleachers, your ex is snuggling with his new, younger wife. The cruel wind cuts through your coat, a reminder that you are merely a womb and have served your purpose.

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“Those Who Wish Me Dead”

Tonight I enjoyed an action/thriller starring Angelina Jolie: “Those Who Wish Me Dead” (HBO Max). It’s been a stressful week or so, and so this was a great escape. Plus, I learned of a musician whose song plays during the closing credits. There is violence and cursing during the movie, but older kids may like watching this with their parents. A screening is always recommended, of course. I thought it well done. —Margaret