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To Hell and Back
A verse retelling of the story of Orpheus, husband of Eurydice. Eurydice was bitten by a snake and died. Orpheus journeyed to the Underworld to plead that his wife be restored to him. With his skillful playing of the lyre that captivated any creature--even nonliving things--he succeeded in convincing the king and queen of the Underworld to release his wife. I based this verse on the story told in Bullfinch’s Mythology (1959).
Gather 'round now and hear while I retell
One of the greatest stories told of love
About a man named Orpheus, whose skill
With the lyre could melt the hardest of hearts
Of beings both mortal and immortal,
Soothed the beasts that roamed the woods, plains, hills
And even the plants from the lowly shrub
To the stateliest of trees stood entranced,
Whenever he passed and his music played.
Joined to Eurydice in nuptial bliss,
Tragedy struck not long after they’d wed
As Eurydice, loyal to her vows,
Fled from Aristaeus' unwanted arms,
Stepped on a serpent that in turn did bite
Her exposed foot causing her to expire,
Plunging Orpheus in bottomless grief.
What would you do if the woman you loved
Were taken away from your home and hearth,
She whose life with yours was so intertwined
That to live without her was worse than death?
So Orpheus dared go where no man could
To bring back his beloved, he embarked
To the Nether regions where Hades reigned
With Proserpine in eternal night.
He caused such strains that moved the king and queen
To free Eurydice from her confines
And with her husband go without delay
Back to the world where there was night and day.
What happy reunion it must have been
To happen in the most unlikely place
That never witnessed joy nor happiness!
With longing hearts that they would soon unite
Wife walked behind husband towards the light,
But Eurydice had scarcely stepped out
When Orpheus, overcome with desire
To behold his beloved's face once more,
Looked over his shoulder only to find
His wife held back by the cavernous mouth!
For he forgot the bargain he had made
With Hades, who released Eurydice
On condition that Orpheus must not
Glance at his wife until the two of them
Were completely out of the Netherworld.
Thus ended one man's quest born out of love
Who defied nature's laws just for the sake
Of the woman he loved, and did succeed
In freeing her from death's clasp but only
To lose her again for eternity.
Copyright ©
Ryan Gayagay
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