A poem after Theodora Goss out now in Space & Time
Content disclosure: snakes
You must know by now I’m a fan of Medusa. I love her–love her face, her lips, her gorgeous serpent locks. (Sure, turn me to stone. Worth a peek.)
Ergo, I also am a fan of works about her.
When I read Medusa Gets a Haircut by Theodora Goss (Uncanny Issue 38)–which I LOVED–I had to respond. After all, I identify closely with the veterinarian called upon to perform the procedure.
I imagined a different end for the snakes than a sanctuary for abandoned reptiles. Snakes are predators, you know? I wanted something meaningful for them.
My professional note: no, topical anesthesia would be insufficient to the task. Strongly recommend general anesthesia both for Medusa and her writhing locks. But I never would do such a thing (as separate her snakes from Medusa) on ethical grounds…for the snakes.
Read I never would write a poem in Space & Time. Extra fun: You can vote for your favorite works in the issue!
PS: Yes, Theodora Goss, your ending is perfect.
PPS: My first big break as a poet was a response poem, Someone took a cow (similarly about a veterinary procedure), published in Barrow Street a long time ago, a poem that also began with a scalpel blade.
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