Lupa Capitolina
For Ray's Wolfy Tales Challenge
babes she found in the wilderness
lying abandoned, harsh the elements
deep in unforgiving woodland
the wind it whistles as she howls
babes, she offered them protection
her paws tho' tired, march onwards
like they were her very own kin
wind it whistles, as she howls
keeps them sated with her milk
only took pause for a breath
to nuzzle them close, defenceless babes
she-wolf stalks the wilderness
only took pause for a breath
concealing her plight, dutybound
in search for a place for her wards
her paws tho' tired, march onwards
they suckle on her life-giving milk
she howls, wind whistles, world turns
the babes, safe in her warm embrace
she marches until she reaches a place
for them to call home
home that became a mighty conquering nation
"Senatus PopulusQue Romanus"
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: This is for Raymond G. Taylor's inspiring new challenge, Wolfy Tales, which you can learn more about by following the link below this blurb. I was looking for artwork to take further inspiration from in addition to the Nordic lines Ray supplied, and as a big fan of Jackson Pollock, I loved this less abstract piece, The She-Wolf, from before he started using his "drip technique".
As is the case with all of Pollock's work, there is no clear interpretation, as he preferred to leave things open, but a common belief is that he did take inspiration from the tale of Romulus and Remus, who were said to have been cared for by a she-wolf named Lupa. The twins then gave birth to Rome.
That is a very short and sweet version, but you can read more about the piece and the myth in the links below Raymond's challenge link.
Here are some other things by me you might enjoy:
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
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Comments (12)
Oh, wow! Fantastic take on a wolf of legendary renown! Very distinct narrative voice to the piece! Good luck in the challenge!
Beautiful work. I love this take on the story of Romulous and Remus
I’ve not seen this challenge, nicely done! I also liked hearing about the picture and Pollock etc! 😃
I noted the similarity in Pollock’s painting to the sculpture. Loved your poetic ur-tale of Lupa’s journey with Romulus and Remus. Awesome entry to the challenge!
This was so emotional and I felt so sad for the she-wolf. I wish I could help her and her pups. Also, in Malay, lupa means forgot. So that made me even sad because it made it feel like she's forgotten. Loved your poem, Sir Paul!
.. and I meant to add that you have reminded me of a drabble I wrote, inspired by the Romulus and Remus story. This has inspired me to revisit the story and write a Legends entry based on it. Thanks for the inspiration which I will of course credit in the completed piece.
Read this with tears in my eyes, Paul. So moving. You really brought the tale to life in a way that nothing else I have so far seen has. A real shame that you can't enter this in the Legends Retold challenge. Thanks for taking the time to think this through and for the introduction to one of Pollock's works I had not seen. It really does show the artist's evolution through abstraction. Whether he meant it to represent the R&R myth is neither here nor there, it certainly represents it in this poem.
Hey I love your poem and the story behind it too. Brill.
Ah, this is one of those poems I wish I could read for the first time again. I loved the emotional undercurrent to this. Remarkably done!
Love this story.
Great poem for a classic work of art. Love the story behind it all <3
Love the flow of this one, and how you drew extra inspiration from the artwork! Nicely done, Paul!!