Fairest Reflections, Sonnet from Symbols Challenge Options

[Larry]

Fairest Reflections

Before the Sphinx or pyramids were built
and Stonehenge just imagination’s dreams
there dwelt an old hermaphrodite who spilt
the metals from his alchemy in streams

so cooling waters would soon dissipate
heat from his meditations. Mirrors made
were the archetypes; each showed the smallest trait
of good or evil. All would be displayed

between the zodiacs around each rim.
He’d made one for a queen; a pig inside,
whose Oedipus complex had bothered him.
She’d purchased poisons too but spells applied

left Sleeping Beauty on thresholds of death
with just the hint of apple on her breath.