Of Athena, Greece and Olives

It’s Poetry Friday and Keri is hosting at Keri Recommend s. Thanks, Keri!


Athena, New Acropolis Museum, Athens
http://www.my-favourite-planet.de/images/middle-east/turkey/pergamon/athens_dj-15052011-0311c_archaic-athena-statue.jpg
I’m popping in with a poem inspired by my recent trip to Greece. For a long time, it has been my dream to walk in the homeland of my grandfather John Brousaides, who emigrated to Boston in the early 20thcentury. He fled to avoid conscription into the Turkish army where he would have been forced to fight against his Greek countrymen.

My husband Bob and I crossed off this bucket list item as our 50th wedding anniversary celebration. And our family and friends came along!

I didn't get as far north as Mount Parnassus, but came within sight of the Muses' mountain at magnificent Delphi. I'm still awash in the memories of olives, feta, Greek yogurt and honey, the many hues of Aegean blue, and the outpouring of hospitality from the Greeks we met.
Olives growing in Athens - my photo
This poem with Greece personified in Athena surfaced on the plane ride from Toronto to Athens. Pantoums always seem like a good place to start when I don’t know where I want to end up. Believe it or not, the biggest challenge for me here was the choice between dreamt and dreamed! Any votes for either one?
Many thanks to David John at My Favourite Planet for permission to post his lovely photos of Athena's statues. If you're a traveler or  researcher, check out My Favorite Planet for amazing photos and commentary.
 Athena, Pergamon Museum, Berlin http://my-favourite-planet.de/english/middle-east/turkey/pergamon/pergamon-photos-02-013.html
In Search of Athena
The Greek goddess beckons meto cross my own boundaries,to reach back and grasp the handsof kin who dreamt among the olives.
Crossing my own boundaries,I hear stories pouring from Parnassusof those who dreamt among the olivesrich with the oil of belonging.
Stories pour from Parnassusof brothers who fled their homeland,denied the oil of belongingcold-pressed from Athena’s tree.
Brothers fled their homelandleaving behind the olivescold-pressed from Athena’s treefor other fruits and new dreams.
Leaving behind her olives,the Greek goddess beckons meto taste the fruits and share the dreamsof those who reach to clasp my hand.                                ~ Joyce Ray, 2015 All rights reserved