Echidna in Her Cave
Skirmish: When I was (@geercom)Liner Notes
The skirmish prompt was to start a line with “When I Was…”
Today I learned about the mythological character Echidna. So she was on my mind.
This was first titled “Mother of Monsters,” but I’ve changed it.
I’ve been sick. My voice is coming back. But I’m currently in the hallway of a music school, outside my son’s tap class, so can only give you lyrics on my phone. More one day! #mythology
Lyrics
When did they begin to hate me, Twist my beauty into rage, Say that I was somehow nymph and snake? When did I become a story, That could neither die nor age Given children monstrous and depraved?
When I was Echidna in her cave But when was I Echidna in her cave?
All the fears I’ve given birth to All the crimes they framed me for All the monsters they could name, and more Poison in a claw or tooth, Woman, yes, and myth therefore Womb within a womb, dark and impure
When I was Echidna in her cave But when was I Echidna in her cave?
Hydra and Chimera Cerberus and Spinx Issues of my blood and body Mother of these monstrous things
Sow and dog and dragon Lion, eagle, beast Crawl or fly or slide out of me Bitten apples, bloody fleece
Rock as ceiling, stone as floor, we Bide our time and ruminate Bear our babies, bleed our wounds, and wait When did men first write our story, When did we awake? When did we claw right out of her grave?
When we were Echidna in her cave And when are we Echidna in her cave?
Comments
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2023/10192.png){kind=avatar}
Ooo. I want to hear this. Lots of really clever turns of phrase and references, and the structure is cool too. Nice questioning of the mythical woman and all the associated tropes. This would do SO well in a filk context, just saying.
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/0555b764-3602-44f9-be18-8032d1d9dae8.png){kind=avatar}
I imagine the cave to be as deep as these lyrics are. You paint a vivid picture here. :-)
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/2dadcddf-63e4-4df9-b894-5e261160eefb.png){kind=avatar}
I like the way each verse is a different level of questioning the narrative. It’s already an implausible story in verse 1, and then we go on from there.
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/4c19e566-e94a-449d-a58f-f6ef2205ab01.png){kind=avatar}
Well -written, nice meter, imagery, and consistency. Cool storytelling.
![[FAWM]](/static/img/demoduck.svg)
Structure is very strong. Hoping for music!