Voices

by David Elliott

  which if you want to keep,

  you’ll do what I ask.

  It isn’t much,

  this little task

  I have in mind. Build me

  a cow of wood and hide.

  Life-size but hollow.

  Then I’ll crawl inside

  and . . .” Her voice trailed away.

  No need to say more.

  We all knew what she wanted.

  That unnatural whore

  was the talk of the island!

  The way she raved

  in the palace, begging . . .

  Desperate. Depraved.

  She had no regard

  for reputation or rank.

  But that’s not the worst part.

  Let me be frank:

  It wasn’t her husband she wanted.

  No such luck.

  It was Poseidon’s Bull

  she was begging to—​ Look,

  I’m not uptight.

  To each his own and all that.

  But this was too much!

  I should have flat-

  out said no.

  I won’t do it.

  But she was the queen.

  In the end, I said screw it

  and I built the thing

  to her sordid specifications.

  The rest I’ll leave

  to your imaginations.

  Poseidon

  I couldn’t help but overhear

  That pansy’s harangue.

  So, yeah—​I gave the queen a thing

  For the white bull’s thang.

  Be glad that I did!

  If I hadn’t? No story.

  You know the drill:

  No guts. No glory.

  Now you’re grossed out?

  Well, life’s not for wimps.

  Sometimes gods are gods

  And sometimes they’re pimps.

  Pasiphae

  You want me to feel

  ashamed point

  fingers blame

  the god responsible

  for that beastly

  possession

  but you’ll get no

  apology

  from me no tears

  no confession.

  I know what I

  know I know what

  I see none of you

  is that different

  from me.

  Buy the Book

  Visit hmhbooks.com or your favorite retailer to purchase the book in its entirety.

  www.hmhteen.com

  About the Author

  DAVOD ELLIOTT’s last novel in verse for young adults, Bull, garnered six starred reviews and was compared to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton. He is the award-winning author of other books for young readers, including the New York Times best-selling picture book And Here’s to You!, Baabwaa and Wooliam, In the Past, and the This Orq series. He currently lives in New Hampshire with his wife, Barbara, and their dog, Queequeg.

  Learn more at davidelliottbooks.com

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