Mnemosyne
mother of so many arts
without her there is no memory
memory is underrated these days
people think it exists in silicon chips
but memory is far richer
Euterpe Terpsichore and Polyhymnia
are best friends
in constant movement
they mimic birds with their song
forever tapping this stick against that skin
blowing hollow tubes
humming and chanting
their bodies are in free flight
they are the eldest of the arts
poets inform them
they need some content
along comes Erato
to put words into the songs
and her sister
serious-faced Calliope who says
if you are earnest about poetry
you have to be prepared to stay up all night
the musicians cheer their night owl sisters
next come the twins
Melpomene and Thalia
they claim that their theatrical art
draws together all the previous ones
adding that we all need to cry and laugh
tragedy and comedy
masks we wear
Melpomene older sister
but Thalia has the last word
what point is there
chimes in Clio
if you can't organise your collective memory?
history is what we agree on
it's what we will pass on to the next generation
finally Urania
who opines that all of this is futile
if you don't organise time
astronomical bodies she says
are our best bet
they are regular in their movements
outlive each small life and
we can trace our stories through their motions
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