Dionysus, Demeter and Zeus
My friends, it is a dismal thing
At such an hour to pound and ring!
Let others shiver if they must,
I shall not greet a sky of rust!
Let first the air be half so warm
As in this covered nest I form.
And then, perhaps, if need of it,
I’ll lift an eye, and half-way sit.
Forever slept, thou fiendish, foul-formed fool!
Forever fallen gods raise mortals cruel!
Forever shalt thou freeze within thy bed!
Forever warmth from I and Earth is fled!
Forever field and forest shall be dead!
A glass of wine, my dear. A bottle, nay!
More sweetly then, thy passions, shall they play.
In all great measure dwells but sad decay.
In narrow compass, cruel and awkward things.
Melt then the moment to what mirth one may!
Well wine will warm, when wandering wit it wings!
To find joy in sorrow, sorrow in joy,
Whence withered wits, divine delights destroy.
Then for thy flock, what else wouldst have them be?
Shall all their moments reach eternity?
All leave my banquet, as they must.
I make them wet, yet still, they’re dust.
What shall they leave behind when once they’re gone?
Shall sorrow only other sorrows spawn?
Thou knowest, perhaps, we build a certain ship,
That mayst from here to dark Kimmeria slip?
Aye.
For I do hear their pounding night and day;
And all fair dreams, it chases straight away;
And what became of lethargy, I say?
Mayst not a lazy man have peace and play?
I build the ship, and yet shall mortals go?
Therein I need thy help, that it be so.
Dionysus, who divinity forgot?
Dionysus, drink debasing down to naught?
That Dionysus, is it, now is sought?
That Dionysus, aye. Yet speak not thus.
There’s greater pain abroad, than e’er ‘twixt us.
We ask a ship of mortals leave their home,
The land of light, to fog and darkness roam.
The sacred paths of Earth to leave behind,
And in its place, but dismal Hades find.
The treasured, troubled Earth beneath the sky!
We ask they leave, nor may we tell them why.
Let once I show the way and they shall go.
Enough! Tomorrow shall you know it so.
Copyright ©
Jerrold Prothero
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