Valley Of The Muses

Valley Of The Muses
© Surazeus
2025 02 12

Hair blowing in brisk mountain winds of faith, 
Sariel climbs rugged slopes of Helicon 
to ruined Museum, temple of muses, 
where no rain has fallen one thousand years, 
then sits exhausted among marble pillars 
while goats prance among old twisted plum trees. 

"I wish to bring them back to life again, 
nine charming Muses with their lyres and flutes 
gathered around Apollo in round hall 
where folk traveled far to hear them perform 
songs relating lives of their ancient gods 
during the sacred Mouseia festival." 

Breathing deep muggy air of solitude 
in broad deserted Valley of the Muses, 
Sariel gazes at Mount Helicon 
that shimmers silently in waves of heat, 
while ravens gather in twisted plum trees, 
and feels nameless grief well up in his heart. 

"I sense hazy shadow of Pegasus 
linger near the bubbling Hippocrene spring 
where I dip my hands to drink soul of Earth, 
liquor which opens eyes inside my heart 
so I see nine Muses in flowing gowns 
singing before huge crowd of worshippers." 

Gazing at his face in clear silver pool, 
Sariel grins with amusement of truth 
to think Narcissus stood at this same spot 
and gazed entranced at beauty of his face 
till voice of Echo woke him from false dream 
to keep him from drowning in vanity. 

"After Narcissus visited this pool, 
Tiresias found Athena bathing nude, 
and thus received wyrd art of prophecy 
because his eyes perceived with reverent awe 
divine beauty inherent in her soul, 
tended with care by Eupheme and Linus." 

Heart aching with fierce passion of insight, 
Sariel feels spirit possess his body 
so he starts to sing with mercurial voice 
tale of Apollo chasing graceful Daphne 
till she transforms into the laurel tree 
whose leaves crown the greatest singers of tales. 

"Though they are long dead, fleeting flames of life 
that shone brightly in this valley of music, 
their spirits live in me one thousand years 
after they danced and sang with eloquence, 
so I must sing to keep their art alive 
another thousand years of sacred song."