Children and lunatics cut the Gordian knot which the poet spends his life patiently trying to untie.”
Attributed to Alexander the Great, the Gordian knot is a moniker commonly used to describe a complicated, unsolvable problem. As legend goes, Alexander and his army marched into the Phrygian capital of Gordium, in what is now modern day Turkey. As they entered the city, Alexander saw the cart that belonged to King Midas’s father, Gordius. The remarkable feature on this cart was the yoke, which the Roman historian, Quintus Curtius Rufus described as, “several knots all so tightly entangled that it was impossible to see how they were fastened.”
An oracle proclaimed that whomever unraveled its hopelessly complicated knots was destined to become the ruler of all Asia. This posed an irresistible challenge to Alexander. “For some time Alexander wrestled unsuccessfully with the knots,” Rufus remarks. “Then he said: ‘It makes no difference how they’re untied,’ and cut through all the thongs with his sword, thus evading the oracle’s prophecy—or, indeed, fulfilling it.”
That very night, lightning and thunder shook Gordium, which the seers interpreted to mean the gods were pleased with the man who had cut the Gordian knot. True to the prophecy, Alexander went on to conquer Egypt and much of Asia, before his death from fever at the age of 32.
The tales of Alexander the Great endure and the symbolism of the Gordian knot has become a proverbial term for an intractable problem. Likewise, “cutting the Gordian knot” denotes taking bold action to solve a seemingly impossible problem.
Try It: Gordian Knot Poetry
Picture the scene described above, Alexander standing tall and scratching his head over the puzzle before him. Can you relate? Now imagine the moment he realized there was another way to solve the problem. A better way. Think of a situation where you or another person has cut through the knot. You could also invent a challenge and a clever solution. Who is the hero? Write a poem about a symbolic knot. Remember, all good legendary tales worth their salt include adventure, suspense… and a little poetry.
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Featured Poem
Thanks to everyone who participated in last week’s poetry prompt. Rick jumped in, imagined himself a thread and captured us with his poem:
I
Am blue thread frayed
out of backyard games
from bows of Christmas boxes
a ribbon broken
by bindings breaking
a string that leads away
a streamer in the wind
at dusk in woods
of moonlit moss
swaying to whippoorwills
distant and lamenting
calling echoes
rings on dainty chains or
angora wrapped and brushed
off as love attends and goes
the unraveling of years
bicycles into cars
red lisle of tail lights wrapping
city stars rising in the night sky
fire fibers followed
from days end dissolving
at the edge of mountains
or imagined hissing of the sea
in the airs of hours’ end
the wrappings there
for the body of was
—by Rick Maxson
Photo by Gaeten Maerten, Creative Commons via Flickr.
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How to Write a Poem uses images like the buzz, the switch, the wave—from the Billy Collins poem “Introduction to Poetry”—to guide writers into new ways of writing poems. Excellent teaching tool. Anthology and prompts included.
“How to Write a Poem is a classroom must-have.”
—Callie Feyen, English Teacher, Maryland
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Donna Falcone says
Rick – I really enjoyed your poem and the beautiful images. It was wonderful how your title intuitively becomes the first word of each new thread bio, creating such a lovely flow of sound and imagery – I loved that!
Rick Maxson says
Thanks, Donna.
Heather, thanks for posting this.
Katie says
I agree Donna – the flow and imagery are marvelous.
Especially enjoyed “red lisle of taillights wrapping”
I have always loved the beauty of a time-lapsed image of car lights at night!
Thank you Rick for such an enjoyable poem.
Rick Maxson says
Against Despair
I was no stranger to a death
by a father who loved me,
bound to his rigid ways.
Nothing is forever
except love, and that cannot
be changed,
as water must be wet, for eyes
to see. It’s there in the snow
obscuring the window pane.
There is always hope,
even as we die and point
to the flowers in the room
and try to sing.
Donna Falcone says
Oh, that ending really got me.
Very nice, Rick.
Rick Maxson says
Thanks.
Christina says
That is beautiful, Rick.
Katie says
My favorite lines:
“nothing is forever except love”
and
“there is always hope”
Thank you for sharing.
Poetic Flow says
Gordian Knot
Twisted and turned into curves with strength. A beauty made of rope. I shall weave my knot all over this world. Magically intruding thought. How can something so simple be entertained into art.
Poetically Speaking…
Donna Falcone says
I love this. It reminds me of dancing!
Katie says
Me too, Donna:)
Also: “I shall weave my knot all over this world.”
Love that!
Donna Falcone says
The boldest move
is to live along the curve,
never holding on
Rick Maxson says
Ah! Where centrifugal force is the greatest. may the force be with you, Donna.
Donna Falcone says
Thanks, Rick. 😉 I’ll need it.
Yvonne Marjot says
Tangle
For Mark
It’s a knotty problem,
this tangle we’ve made
of our lives.
Now you’re gone, I can’t grasp
the other end of the thread.
You have become
the puzzle of the labyrinth,
the lost string,
Icarus falling.
If I close my eyes, reach in
and pull you out,
will you look back?
I believed you were
indestructible.
I lied. Those sisters
poised over their embroidery
severed the links
all at once.
I am left holding
the Gordian knot:
your life and mine
inextricably tangled,
a macramé of twisted
fears and loves.
You are there in the darkness
with your sword,
waiting to cut me loose.
I won’t let you.
Not yet.
Donna Falcone says
Yvonne, this is very moving. You’ve really captured feeling of the Gordian knot. This line really struck me:
Now you’re gone, I can’t grasp
the other end of the thread.
Such a powerful sense of groundlessness comes through. Thank you for sharing.
Rick Maxson says
I liked this poem, Yvonne. Of course the end came with a jolt, but I thought “a macramé of twisted fears and loves” may have been my favorite lines, given the prompt. Well done!
Monica Sharman says
Self-Defense
Attacker lunges,
powers forward
toward me,
bloodshot eyes bulging
like the biceps
behind his fists.
I don’t stay rooted
or hold my ground
but step lightly aside,
parry just enough—
a sweep of the leg
and the force
of his own power
takes him down.
Rick Maxson says
This poem moves like the “gentle way” of Judo in its simplicity. Seems to depict the loosening of the knot of fear and the potential entanglement of assault.
I like it.
Katie says
I agree, Rick.
The imagery you created here, Monica –
every bit as elegant/graceful as ballet:)
Christina says
This was a great challenge! Thank you! http://www.creativrandfree.com/Gordian-knot/