Medusa

Never before you compared

My frozen image 

On your computer screen

To Medusa

Have I heard myself

Compared to an accursed and ugly woman 

With the power

To turn men to stone.

While the problem might be

Your limp Internet connection,

I cannot help but hear

You tell me I am ugly.

At the same time, though,

I think all you know of Medusa

Is that she was ugly. 

I, on the other hand, know

Medusa got it on with Poseidon

And gave birth to Pegasus.

I know also 

That Athena,

Who helped Perseus kill Medusa,

Also gave her healing blood

To Asclepius.

There’s more to say about Medusa,

Whom you find ugly,

Like me.

But I am not the frozen image

On your computer screen.

Also, I have no power

Over any man.

A stone is a stone.

Know your heart.

I will wash my hair.

Look away.