Best Euterpe Poems
I write when beauties step into my heart
and when the Muse unveils her very art.
I write when to a wonder, my soul leaps
and when the warmest of bliss is spilled heaps.
I write when Nature reigns and sends her scent
and when allured to my Self give vent.
That’s Euterpe of music and beauty
full, overflowing many a ruby.
And when poetry, a gift that beguiles
drifting, with no anchor, into the wilds.
And when in life, breezes merge with the storms
highest Selves emerge above bonds and norms.
And what is to the heart precious and dear
souls would linger in perpetual fear.
Merry pure hearts in the season of youth
friendly warm Spring, a reverie and sooth.
March 8th, 2019
Shall we guilty claim
a rose, as her beauties rain?
when suppressing her prickles
floods of her blood
bedew her roots
absorbed in grace.
Shall we banish beaming scents
of a rose rising in light?
when flourishing wonders
and streams of delight
flowing into human veins
avidly captured beyond words.
Shall we a beholder blame
for admiring in shining light a rose?
when many a reason
grant noble human hands
to hold an evergreen rose
rejoicing at divine creation.
Shall we a rose deny
a deep inner desire
to serve and give?
Bearer of Aphrodite and Venus Love
showy but unrevealing
transcends words what she conveys.
Shall I Euterpe invoke
my rose to inspire?
with sacred music
words above the clouds
penetrating fervent hearts
that never leave the heavens of poetry.
August 11th, 2018
a quatern
Shine on, Euterpe, cast your light.
We've not much time so please be brief.
"A simple answer brings relief
but careful thought will save you grief."
Focus, dear muse, for we must write,
shine on, Euterpe, cast your light.
"A hasty sonnet quickly flung
the next day finds that verse unsung.
Lay work aside when things feel wrong;
balance labor with time for song."
Shine on, Euterpe, cast your light,
I sense a notion taking flight?
"If while you toil, the words defer,
you hit a wall and stanzas blur
let music be your mind's chaffeur."
Shine on, Euterpe, cast your light.
**written 11/17/2010, my first pen at PS.
Euterpe (you ter' pee) is the muse of lyric poetry.
Inside my mailbox late last month; nine packs of seeds - a mystery!
I hadn't ordered anything, but curious was I to see
what might become of planting them. So grabbing trowel, hoe, and rake,
I set about to till some soil; a little garden plot to make.
To my delight, the plants grew fast. I'd saved the packs to see each name;
though Latin isn't my first tongue, I'd know each blossom as it came.
Each flower shape was like a quill, which I then took back to my room
and onto paper, words would spill from every seed's enchanted bloom.
The packet labeled "Clio Phlox" was my first taste of mystery:
the quill-shaped flower wrote and wrote a tome of Roman history!
"Euterpe Hyacinth" was next: this writing didn't take as long.
Within ten minutes, written down were lyrics of a lovely song.
Then "Terpsichore Ranunculus" - after it drew a five-line staff,
composed a lively dance tune for the song lyrics - it made me laugh!
Speaking of laughter, my next bloom; the "Thalia Agapanthus" wrote
a stand-up comic's funny script - a joke or two I'd love to quote.
"Melpomene Nasturtium" was the one I needed tissues for:
as tragic words came pouring out, my teardrops splashed upon the floor.
"Urania Hydrangea" wrote sweet poetry of sun and stars,
of comets, and alignment of the moon with Jupiter and Mars.
"Erato Rosa" wrote some rhymes of kisses under stars above,
some ballads of infatuation, some of unrequited love.
"Calliope Plumeria" wrote fast and long: one poem came -
a tragic tale of epic length, it put poor Beowulf to shame!
"Gardenia Polyhymnia" wrote Psalm-like hymns, I said "amen".
My eyes were reverently shut, but when I opened them again -
I realized it was a dream! Nine muses came in flower form.
I woke, and quickly wrote this down (believe me, this is not the norm!)
//Note: The Nine muses of ancient Greece were:
//Clio - History Euterpe - Lyric Poetry Terpsichore - Song/Dance
//Thalia - Comedy Melpomene - Tragedy Urania - Astronomy
//Erato - Love poetry Calliope - Epic poetry Polyhymnia - Sacred Hymns
//... the remaining Latin words are names of some of my favorite flowers
written 12 Aug 2020
Like a bird
I want to croon daylong
wing off the cage to where I belong.
Like a reed
I want to sigh my wind
pipe my heart artfully to no end.
Like a song
I want to voice my inner harmony
as mind and soul merge in beauty.
Like ripples
I want to expand my feel
send waves shimmering with zeal.
Like Euterpe
I want to touch souls and inspire
my musing, my music are to admire.
Like a poet
I want to cast a spell of wit on my pen
and have the world of words as my den.
Like a dreamer
I want to walk on boundless paths
a free spirit lured by heights and depths.
April 1st, 2019
Rays of light ravish the dark,
Breaths are held as if in fear,
Awaited moment treading near,
Eddy devouring the Noah’s Ark.
A figure in black, drunk with awe
Hair in ponytail, by Euterpe crowned
Oceans of hurray, thus the silence drowned
Moments are devoured by the hour’s maw
Bow raised to enamor
And violin by the chin
Then a haughty grin
Blossoming glamour
Fingers of Muse charm
Notes to dance with grace
Melodious rhythms pace
Ears’ wall to disarm
Words of sweet euphony
Crown soprano’s chant
In violin’s veins pant
Notes of divine symphony
Soft strings of soul
Delved in pure fantasy
In harmony’s ecstasy
Mind and matter become whole.
Endearing words of mine piling in confusion
A soul dropping ink hither and thither in profusion
The muse of beauty denies my pen the spell
Gems of rarity out glow and strive against the shell
Voice of poetry, echo of my life
Compose your note and mind strife
Euterpe, Muse of music delight me bestow
Words of soul, inhale harmony and through flute flow
Amazed, my heart pounding on ebony and ivory
Enchanted, I take a bow in ecstasy.
The nine muses
Daughters of Zeus
Inspiring of mortals
And nurturers of the arts
The first was,
The divine Calliope,
Beautiful-voiced,
Was the muse of the epic poets
A writing tablet in her hand
Calliope was Homer's muse
Inspiration for the Iliad
Divine influence of the Odyssey
The second was,
The divine Clio
The maker of fame,
Was the muse of history
A parchment scroll in her hands
Clio was the proclaimer
The third was,
The divine Erato,
Desired and lovely,
Was the muse of the lyric poets
A golden arrow in her hand
Muse of love verse
And of Erotic poetry
Erato the muse who charms the sight
And inspires love in everybody
The fourth was,
The divine Euterpe,
Rejoicing well,
Was firstly the muse of music
Then of Lyrical poetry
A double flute in her hand
Euterpe the Giver of delight
The fifth was,
The divine Melpomène,
The one that is melodious,
Was firstly the muse of singing
To celebrate with dance and song
Then she became the muse of tragedy
And hid behind a tragic mask
A knife or club in her hand
Creator of beautiful lyrical phrases
Melpomène muse of Horace
The sixth was,
The divine Polyhymnia,
The one of many hymns,
Was the Muse of sacred poetry and sacred hymns
Of eloquence and pantomime
In her long cloak and classical pose
Polyhymnia was a serious, pensive and meditative muse
The seventh was,
The divine Terpsichore,
Delight of dancing,
Muse of choral songs and dance
A lyre in her hand
Accompanies the dancers
Terpsichore muse of dance
Mother of the sirens
The eighth was,
The divine Thalia,
Flourishing, in bloom,
Was the muse of comedy and idyllic poetry
A comic mask in her hand
The praises of Thalia, rustic goddess
And in her songs flourish through time
The ninth and final was,
The divine Urania,
Heavenly muse,
Was the muse of astrology
A globe in her hand
Dressed in a cloak embroidered with stars
Urania was reader of the stars
Calliope, gives us epic poetry, but not to me
Erato, erotica I’d rather have a cup of tea,
Clio, gives us all that is past and gone
Euterpe, gave mythology the giver of legends, every one
Melpomene, the muse gave us tragedy and many tears
Terpsichore, gave us dance, down through the long years
Thalia, is my favourite she gave a good laugh
Urania, astronomy I love watching stars from my bath
Polyhymnia, muse number nine gave us song-not rhyme.
Contest Entry for Tracie's Nine poem, nine lines, nine words in each line
~GG~ 11/01/2013
Of all the gods and goddesses
Found in Greek mythology,
My favorites are the nine Muses*,
Each means something special to me:
Calliope is epically bombastic;
Urania has stars in her eyes;
Erato's love poems are fantastic;
And Melpomene says of tragedy,
"It's not a play unless somebody dies.";
Polyhymnia's hymns're rafter ringing;
With Clio through history I prance;
Euterpe is kind 'bout my singing;
Terpsichore, not so much 'bout my dance.
But my main muse has always been Thalia,
We were so good together on stage,
And considering how long this gal's been around,
She's holding up well for her age.
Now that I'm no longer acting
I don't see her as much anymore,
Though I know anytime I get stuck for a rhyme,
She'll be there for me just as before.
She says I'm not much of a poet,
My verse is not epic and grand.
And she's right, it's not great, and I know it,
But at least it's not vapid and bland.
She likes to drop by to remind me
Of what she thinks were happier times.
When she wants me, she knows where to find me,
Here, scribbling away at my rhymes.
*The nine Muses: Calliope-epic poetry; Erato-love poetry; Polyhymnia-hymns; Euterpe-song; Thalia-comedy; Urania-astronomy; Melpomene-tragedy; Clio-history; Terpsichore-dance
These Four Muses Sing
These four
Muses simply pour
Epic words poets eat
great writes can't be beat
Calliope sent charm and wit
those favored she made it fit
Euterpe gave imagination as a boon
graced with wisdom from brighten moon
Erato sprinkled poet dust on her few
beautiful rhyme is all they now ever do
Polyhymnia awarded shining poetic worded love
made it fit so very well, just like a boxer's glove
Four Muses gracing dear poet's Hearts and Souls
raising man's poetic art by setting ever loftier goals
When poetic words rapidly flow into your sore aching head
think not of yourself but rather of these four great Muses instead
Robert J. Lindley, 07-27-2014
note:
Of the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne who inspired
artists and musicians.
Four of the daughters: Calliope, Euterpe, Erato
and Polyhymnia were specifically responsible for
inspiring poets!!
By Mount Helicon we met
Cupid struck; and in love’s net
We were caught, just you and me
Underneath the willow tree
Past the sunset through the night
Tasted moments of delight
Exchanged kisses, drank the wine
Precious nectar from the vine
Goblet sent by gods divine
We ascended to cloud nine
Till at last we fell asleep
Slowly drifted far and deep
In the land of dreams reclined
In each other’s arms entwined.
When I woke by light of dawn
All alone, found you were gone
Agitated called your name
But of course you never came
Panic grew; was I to blame?
My tears fell; I knew no shame
Shivers racked my body whole
Icy cold and shattered soul
Hugged the pillow where you lay
Robbed of thoughts and words to say
Outside wandered in the rain
Felt the ache of searing pain.
Didn’t know what had gone wrong
The emotions were too strong.
Now I pine each day for you
There is nothing else to do
Just in case you do return
Make my heart with pleasure burn...
You know where to find me
Here awaiting I will be
Under the willow tree...
---------------------------------------------------
Author: Paul Callus ~ 10th April 2014
Contest: Any Poem#20
Sponsor: Poet Destroyer A
Placing: 3rd
Sonnet VII – Invoking The Muses
I call the daughters of Mnemosyne:
Sweet Erato, your kithara solo -
Dearest Euterpe, your aulos blow -
So my words won’t die in ignominy.
Inspire me with words of wit and charms,
That playfully dance like leaves on the streams.
Send them from above, like silver moonbeams,
To embrace my love with gossamer arms.
Like Icarus, I want to reach so high,
But I’m a simple man with simple rhymes
Who wants to enchant, inspire and amuse –
Hoping my loved one will longingly sigh,
And offer her heart to me for all time –
Which is why I’m invoking the Muses!
Hippocrene (hip'?-kren‘) is a fountain on Mount Helicon, Greece, sacred to the Muses and
regarded as a source of poetic inspiration.
Mnemosyne (nemoz'ini) is a titan who is the personification of remembrance. She is the
mother of the nine muses: “All nine muses have a science or an art to protect. Cleo
protects the stories of heroes, Urania astronomy, Calliope elegies, Melpomene the
tragedies, Euterpe flute playing, Erato love poems, Tepsicore choir lyrics, Thalia the
comedies and Polyhymnia dance and music.”
“The Muses love to sing and dance. They are superior in musical competitions and any one
who dares to challenge them will always fall short, just as those who question their
importance.”
In a dream I drink from fount Hippocrene
The daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne
Encompass me while I quench. Nine muses
Guarding their arts from human abuses.
I'm not here to challenge or to question;
Nor I seek material possessions.
My presence among you in this dreamy
State is caused by my love of poetry.
And you, Erato, muse of all love poems
I'm a sleepy poet asleep at home.
It's known by few you sing beautifully.
Would all you muses’ sing a song for me?
My thirst is quenched from draft of drinking cup.
Please! Please sing for me before I wake up.
(Summon the Muse)
Calliope drops sensuous
sounds from her fingertips.
My outstretched arms catch
and hold them to my bosom,
wherein they suffer death.
Clio presents her backside.
My impassioned pleas fall
on deaf ears. All the old
stories stay locked inside
aged trunks in the attic.
Where are the words,
recounting broken vows?
Erato is sleeping. Wake up!
Let us pen phrases, turn
hearts of stone into
songs of undying love.
I appeal to Euterpe.
Her answer dribbles down
as scattered snowflakes.
I sing the songs only
to children, or myself.
No boldness here.
Thalia fails completely.
No wit or wisdom blooms,
no grace flourishes forth.
The blank page dances
crazily and begs.
The pen remains silent.