Io Saturnalia

Io, Saturnalia!
Globe of Krates
Hermead XXIV
Epic of Philosophers

Opis strums lyre and sings before hushed crowd.
"Many years ago at bright dawn of time
parents of our race rose from Lake of Stars
and molded our bodies from soil and rain,
then built sheltering fane and called to lost souls
to join us for Saturnalia at warming hearth,
feasting and singing on long winter night.
Our first father Saturnus left dark cave
and lead us from Arcadia to Italia
where he built fane for Opis to cook feast
and invited everyone when snow fell
to join us for Saturnalia at warming hearth,
feasting and singing on long winter night.
Picus son of Saturnus tended trees
that blossom with apples in summer glow,
picked apples for Pomona to brew juice,
then prepared feast of sweet roasted lamb stew,
so join us for Saturnalia at warming hearth,
feasting and singing on long winter night.
Faunus son of Picus in grove of Tibur
at Albunea Well on Aventinus Hill
taught his son Fatuus to chant dream spells
while Marica gave honeyed bread to eat,
so join us for Saturnalia at warming hearth,
feasting and singing on long winter night.
Latinus son of Faunus who ruled Latium
lead us chanting hymns to Lake of Diana
where Amata welcomed all to rich feast
as Lavinia gave presents to each child,
so join us for Saturnalia at warming hearth,
feasting and singing on long winter night.
When cold wind blows cutting sharp to your heart
and black gloom hangs over cities and hills,
light wax candle so its flame flickers gold
and walk narrow streets of shivering fear
to join us for Saturnalia at warming hearth,
feasting and singing on long winter night.
Long ago when freezing snow covered woods
and buried cabins under silent ice,
Saturnus hitched wagon to stamping deer
to bring food and cheer to every lone home,
so join us for Saturnalia at warming hearth,
feasting and singing on long winter night.
We roast chestnuts and bake loaves of wheat bread
and pour honey that glitters from warm flames,
and eyes gleam bright as we drink honey mead
then sing another verse of Live or Die,
so join us for Saturnalia at warming hearth,
feasting and singing on long winter night.
Moonlight glitters on hills of shining snow
and stars twinkle through steaming puffs of breath
when we light pine log that crackles warm glow
and celebrate rebirth of Unconquered Sun,
so join us for Saturnalia at warming hearth,
feasting and singing on long winter night.
We gather to celebrate day of birth
of august Lucifer, great Sol Invictus,
Invincible Sun who invents warm light,
for though he dies, he rises reborn bright
and restores everything that dies to life,
so we resurrect from dark sleep of death,
so join us for Saturnalia at warming hearth,
feasting and singing on long winter night."

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