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Open Poetry #23
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Of Orpheus and Eurydice
| Open Poetry #23 |
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Of Orpheus and Eurydice |
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Aenimal Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350the ass-end of space 
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The gods of Greece hold many tales but none as melancholy as that of lovers Eurydice and Orpheus's folly Upon conclusion of their tale the reader will decree No greater love in life or lore will ever come to be The songs and poems of Orpheus were well beyond compare Of Eurydice tales are told that few were quite as fair On the day their paths did meet their hearts became entwined Inseperable they walked the earth their love they sought to bind Within themselves and nothing else they found their greatest pleasure For Orpheus and Eurydice's love was beyond measure To their wedding Hymen came, his flame brought baleful omen No heed they took for what could come between this man and woman? The answer came that fateful day that Eurydice wandered into the eyes of Aristaeus this chance he would not squander His advances Eurydice spurned and into the fields she fled in haste upon a serpent stepped its venom left her dead Upon the ears of gods and men there fell a song of anguish no heart unscathed by the sadness of Orpheus's languish The underworld he did descend a desperate expedition to the very throne of Hades to sing a sweet petition Whose bitter sorrow even Hades heart, did cause to ache No soul immune to the depth of Orpheus's heartbreak His pleas at last did verily come to their fruition For Hades did consent to them but under one condition That Orpheus not look behind but trust that she was there Sent by Hades to follow him into the upper airs Long the journey, but at last he spied the light of day in his elation he turned to see where Eurydice lay "Farewell, a last farewell!" she cried and was snatched into the darkness Away from Orpheus's eyes who cursed his forgetfullness And so his love a second time was stolen from his life He threw himself into lament for his beloved wife From Orpheus did Thracian maidens try to wrench free his boundless love for his beloved Eurydice In jealousy they turned on him and tore him limb from limb and threw his head into the river where it still did sing In Libethra, where the muses found and buried all his parts the nightingales sing upon his grave a song of mended hearts For even in death there is happiness at this his funeral For reunited with Eurydice their love will burn eternal (Believe it or not I just wrote this today. This is by far the LONGEST poem I've ever written. I hope you enjoy it. It's my favourite tale in Greek mythology and I hope I've told it well.I realize it's a little weak in parts and welcome any suggestions) [This message has been edited by Aenimal (11-26-2002 09:33 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2002 raphael giuffrida - All Rights Reserved | |||
Cpat Hair
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793 |
a nice telling... I enjoyed the read. |
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RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533 |
Enjoyed your epic. Seems women are blamed for so many falls...Eve, Lot's wife, what's up with that? And hey wouldn't you like to bust that Hymen? |
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garysgirl 
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237Florida, USA |
I like the way you told a story in this poem. And, you wrote this just today? that's a very big accomplishment in itself. "Love makes the world go around" |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 BRAVO!!! Oh my gosh, I love this epic too, sweet friend, so very tragic but he sure got what he deserved, as that is what makes poetic justice! (sigh) This is excellent, sweet friend, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Aenimal, thank you for sharing!  May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton "Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." |
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Aenimal Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350the ass-end of space |
Thanks Cpat I'm glad you enjoyed it.. RSwells I just knew someone would say something about Hymen lol garysgirl many thanks it wasn't easy i can assure you. Noah thank you for always being supportive! I think you're all too kind, I upon reading it again i think it needs alot of work. But then I'm rarely happy with anything i write. The curse of art. |
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majnu
since 2002-10-13
Posts 1088SF Bay Area |
wonderful retelling of the myth. i especially like the way you treat orpheus, the ancients pissed me off with their criticism of him and his doubt that she was behind. ah well, i'll keep this one. -majnu |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
I enjoyed this retelling of one of my alltime favorites! |
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Munda Member Elite
since 1999-10-08
Posts 3544The Hague, The Netherlands |
I really enjoyed this! Thanks.  |
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