Orion’s Belt by Lynn White
Orion is back.
He’s hunting again,
his sword sharpened,
his belt tightened.
The animals
insects
birds
fish
are all falling.
And this time Gaia thinks
not even the scorpion
will survive.
But she still has some hope
and pins it on the cockroach
as she loosens his belt again.
Bio
Lynn White lives in north Wales. Her work is influenced by issues of social justice and events, places and people she has known or imagined. She is especially interested in exploring the boundaries of dream, fantasy and reality. She has been nominated for Pushcarts, Best of the Net and a Rhysling Award. Find Lynn here and here.
Author's note
"Orion's Belt" is inspired by the Greek legend in which Zeus was so angry at Orion's claim that he was able to kill any and every animal, that he sent the scorpion to fatally sting him. In this re-imagining Orion is powerful enough to destroy the scorpion but hey, let's hear it for the cockroach. Seems a legend whose time has come.
This piece was first published in Verseve Stars Anthology in 2025.
