Penny Otto

A blog by artist Penny Otto

Years ago, at a party in 1971, I met Betsy, a visiting classics lecturer at the University of Auckland. She and I decided to collaborate on a poetry book.

It was 1971, Betsy was the author and I the illustrator. The synopsis on the back of our little book explains,”…[Penny & Betsy] quickly discovered a mutual love of mythology, and as young mothers, a need for a creative outlet. Thus began a year of joyful collaboration that produced “The family of Zeus” and a lasting friendship. In 2016 after all this time, they have decided to publish their work as this book.”

Sadly, my American friend Betsy is no longer alive, but I shall never forget the way in which she consulted her “muse” to produce these poems!

Here are a few lines from one of her poems;

Hera (Juno)

Here’s goddess I know you know,

Green-eyed Hera (Roman Juno).

Sometimes loved – more often hated –

To Father Zeus she’s twice related.

His sister-wife (there’s none above her)

Makes it hard for him to love her.

For though she has her share of fellas,

When Zeus has girlfriends, she gets jealous.

“Hera” (Greek name) an illustration from the pages of The Family of Zeus”

“Zeus” an illustration from the pages of The Family of Zeus”

Here is a second poem. (This is a nice chap!)

Hephaestus (Vulcan)

Mars needs arms to fight a battle.

Pegasus – a silver saddle.

Zeus demands a bolt of lightning.

Whatever job, however odd,

Ask lame-foot Vulcan, Blacksmith god.

Dexterous, generous. full of talents,

His only flaw is faulty balance.

” Hephaestus (Vulcan)” an illustration from the pages of The Family of Zeus”

These poems are excerpts from my last and only copy so now I am wondering if the CaXton Press, New Zealand, might do another run for me?!

It has been so enjoyable revisiting Betsy Dawson’s poems which have brought back all the fun we had with working on this project, that I want to continue with a few more excerpts from our little book. My rendering of the legs of the adult Hermes (below) definitely shows a Picasso influence which was strong at the time in which I created the illustrations.

Hermes (Mercury)

first verse

Airmail, telegram, carrier pigeon,

On-the-spot-coverage by television.

None of these systems is nearly so fleet

As messenger Hermes with wings on his feet.

Be it missive or mischief – a trick or a crime,

This is one God who won’t waste any time.

Why, he’d only been born for a matter of hours

When he started to use his ingenious powers.

Said he to his mother, “I’ve no time for prattle.

I’ve got to go pilfer Apollo’s fat cattle.

I’ve a sure-fire scheme for avoiding detection.

I’ll make them walk backward – reverse their direction.

On the soles of my feet I’ll put bark from that tree, So he’ll think

it’s a monster and not suspect me.”

Third verse…

Last verse…

Artemis (Diana)

Echoes in the forest, tracks too faint to follow –

These are signs of Artemis, twin sister of Apollo.

This maiden goddess doesn’t want a husband or a suitor,

But saves her wiles for hunting deer and being a sharp shooter.

She’d rather roam the pathless hills, a friend to plants and beasts,

Than mix amidst us mortals, or dine at godly feasts.

In arguments and battles, she wont often take a side,

If we don’t neglect her altar or offend her queenly pride.

Yet there is one delightful struggle where she demonstrates her worth –

That’s in taking care of babies and assisting at each birth.

To me this distant goddess displays great commonsense

In liking best those things unspoiled and full of innocence.