XII: Zeus (Re-) Orders The Firmament

Phaëthon barely hung onto the shredded reins

as Sky’s menagerie threatened. The Olympian Bull

raised shining horns and stomped the stardust.

Orion drew his sword. Boötes raised his cudgel.

Pegasus the Horse strafed the ground and charged.

Bears of the North Pole prowled to the southern void.

Into the starry chaos at last came Zeus.

With a thunderbolt he struck Phaëthon dead

and dropped him into the river below, Eridanus.

The river turned to flames and rose into the sky,

a meandering path of lights, the Milky Way.

Zeus restored Hours, Days, Months, Years.

He positioned Phaëthon in a constellation,

The Charioteer—with arms raised, always ready

for a fool’s race against the gods’ god—Fate.