I was made of gold purer than Helios’ rays.
With a sharpened nail upon my back, she carved
the words of Eris, “Ti Kallisti”, “To the Fairest”,
all the rage of her rejection bitterly burning into my flesh.

In a cloud of spite, we rose to Mount Pelion, where Peleus was united to Thetis.
The sound of the gods’ merriment echoed down the mountainside,
but my mistress, goddess of discord, could have no place where two souls were
joined as one. Eris strode into the banquet hall,

and the air was filled with a tangible tension.
Her insidious obsidian eyes hissing of her malicious resolve,
she let me slip from her hand
with a bored air of pretension.

I fell to the ground, my gold skin striking the marble floor with a resounding
Clang. Silent, she swept away.
As I rolled across the floor, upturned shone the words of Eris, “Ti Kallisti”, “To the Fairest”.
The clear gray eyes of Athena saw them first,

but then Hera and Aphrodite swooped in like jealous magpies.
Their hands were claws, snatching and struggling,
and their voices were angry and shrill.
They fought for the honor of the words of Eris, “Ti Kallisti”, “To the Fairest”.

Paris handed me to Aphrodite, and she handed Helen to him.
The war of men and the gods was begun, and Eris was triumphant.

I am that golden apple of
Discord,
over which a war was fought.
I bear the words of Eris, “Ti Kallisti”, “To the Fairest”.