Gaia, Estranged

in the beginning
there was Primeval, and Chaos
there were no other beings

the waters mingled
nothing had been ordained

then the gods came,
considered the waters
the earth
how names might give destinies

the Mother of All
was made small,
conceived hatred for the gods

she plotted destruction
she spawned monsters
she made ready to destroy the realm

the heart failed,
the gods filled with fear
when sent forth
to appease

the Ancient,
she had roused:
sharp of tooth
cruel of fang,
merciless.

the lesser gods crying,
“what has changed
that she should hate us?”

from ‘Orpheus’ p.17