The Ballad of Orpheus

By Echoes of Orpheus




-

His song echoes onwards
Echoes onwards forever
He sang of his lover
And his love ceasing never

-






A singer of legend
A poetic lord
By beast, by man, and plant
By all he was adored

His tunes dominated nature
Kept evils held at bay
Uprooted trees to follow
As he upon his lyre played

They crossed the siren's isle once
And though their cries were strong
Orpheus sang and played his harp
And none heard the siren's song

Upon returning to Greece
He found a love true
Eurydice they called her
Of more beauty, no one knew

His song found new meaning
In this maiden all too fair
He sang for her forever more
His lyre knew no wear

Upon the day they married
She met untimely doom
By a snake her life was taken
But this did not stop her groom

The underworld he entered
The river styx he crossed
The ferry moved to his harp's command
And the murky river glossed

To the lord of death he sang
In all too sad a tone
Sang of his mourning heart
And how it was alone

The flaming eyes of Hades
For a moment dulled to norm
A lord of death, what right had he
To extinguish love in any form

Hades promised he could keep her
When he left, she would follow
So long as he looked not back
Lest she be by darkness swallowed

Upon the stairs as they ascended
He neared the top and saw the light
In his mirth he turned to face her
And she vanished from his sight

The ferryman no longer heeded
His song or harp notes played
His chance gone, his hopes dead
Though his love would never fade

He sang her name for all to hear
Never running out of breath
He sang this song for his lover dear
He sang until his death:



"Love is not conquered
Not even in death
Love echoes onwards
Beyond our last breaths

My love is eternal
An ever-burning flame
Forever I'll sing it
I'll sing out your name

Eurydice, Eurydice
May our flame keep us warm
Eurydice, Eurydice
Perfection's true form


Eurydice,


Eurydice,


Never forgotten."







Many years later he met his doom
The Maenads cleaved off his head
By some miracle it went on singing,
Singing of his lover long dead







-

His song echoes onwards
Echoes onwards forever
He sang of his lover
And his love,




Ceasing never

-




Unauthorized Copying Is Prohibited. Ask the author first.
© 2008 Echoes of Orpheus
Published on Friday, April 4, 2008.     Filed under: "Poetry"
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Comments on "The Ballad of Orpheus"

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  • Artanis On Wednesday, December 22, 2010, Artanis (56)By person wrote:

    you tell the story well in a way that deepens its meaning.great work:)

  • A former member wrote: lovely. so lovely.

  • Rhys Ki On Monday, April 7, 2008, Rhys Ki (68)By person wrote:

    I like this better than the written mythology itself! Nice rythm; creative imagery; a beautiful piece.

  • Circe Avalon On Saturday, April 5, 2008, Circe Avalon (115)By person wrote:

    I love greek myths and even better when they are put to verse! Very good work!

  • Narcissa On Friday, April 4, 2008, Narcissa (404)By person wrote:

    May your heart never stop singing...beatifully written.

  • denver nitze On Friday, April 4, 2008, denver nitze (256)By person wrote:

    you have a knack for the romantic. you are going to make someone very happy one day i'm sure. this was well done, great rhythm and rhyme. i loved it. *cheers* ~ta~

  • Mars On Friday, April 4, 2008, Mars (327)By person wrote:

    you spoke right tangy. good write babe. -mars Scholar

  • A former member wrote: ok i admit it, i cried just a little, thats so lovey. Scholar

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