MOUSAI
Muses, please come charm my mind, as
I go along the straight road to the grove.
1.
How do the redoubtable sisters fare today?
The Nine who would dance together sweetly
Whose dresses were soaking wet
Everywhere was the scent of flowers
You all went underground
Sandals slapped until there was no sound
In the wind we could still hear you
In the waves of the sea, in the trees
In the firecrackle late at night
In waters laughing in the woods
Outdoors we still heard your song
You had not left, you’d charmed the earth
It was by accident we lost our way
Through too much hatred and guilt
All the bitterness of memory
We couldn’t turn into a single lesson
We couldn’t even win the battle of wisdom
Which still tears at us in hard dreams
Come to us now, Mousai, charm our way
Lend us music, heal our tired minds
Or put us to sleep forever. Charm our bodies
To hear more sound where we thought was silent
Enter us into dark places with your light
To see all that had been hidden, is returned.
Everywhere was the scent of flowers
You all went underground
Sandals slapped until there was no sound
In the wind we could still hear you
In the waves of the sea, in the trees
In the firecrackle late at night
In waters laughing in the woods
Outdoors we still heard your song
You had not left, you’d charmed the earth
It was by accident we lost our way
Through too much hatred and guilt
All the bitterness of memory
We couldn’t turn into a single lesson
We couldn’t even win the battle of wisdom
Which still tears at us in hard dreams
Come to us now, Mousai, charm our way
Lend us music, heal our tired minds
Or put us to sleep forever. Charm our bodies
To hear more sound where we thought was silent
Enter us into dark places with your light
To see all that had been hidden, is returned.
This is. a great prologue to the Mousai. It has all the flavour of the Homeric hymns but with a slight hint of the modern. I look forwrad to reading the rest.
ReplyDeleteI have read both #136 and #137, Mousai #1 and #2.
ReplyDeleteI can't add to the comments other than to say these are treasured poems, Robert.
Thank you both for listening! :)
ReplyDelete