By Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes

THE MYTH OF FINANCE

The Greek gods
have been evicted from Olympus

The financial crisis
is a mythological boulder
Sisyphus can’t keep from rolling downhill
into red

Today
the steroid-pumped Hercules
is peddling CocaCola to tourist
in a chain of seaside markets
managed by Poseidon

Money lenders
have forced Atlas to prop up banks
instead of sky

Beautiful Aphrodite
works 12 hour days as a hair stylist
barely able to make ends meet

Who saw it coming?

The oracle
spit out a plethora of spreadsheets
Apollo couldn’t read

Even the almighty Zeus
has developed a complex
after creditors threatened foreclosure
on his mountain resort

The omnipotent ruler
forced to rent his brand to restauranteurs
just to keep the electric company
from shutting off power

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Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes

Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes was born and raised in San Diego, California. He attended Herbert Hoover High School and went on to study Religion and Theology at the University of San Diego. His book Intimate Geography, published by Ragged Sky Press, won the 2012 San Diego Book Award for Poetry. Ish, as he is known, has also written lyrics for German musicians Andrea Hörkens and Thomas Roderburg (Tender Art).

Latest posts by Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes (see all)

• Word’s Out | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 14, 2018
• Political Love Affair | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 7, 2018
• Deer Tracks | Geo-Poetic Spaces - November 30, 2018