On the banks of the River of Woe,
Forsaken by the gods,
I await your return from Hades,
O Charon.
Sullen and wrathful my life,
In death condemned
To wander
These shores,
My soul yearns for release.
I beseech you,
O Charon,
Ferry me across the dark river
To the mouth of Hades,
And the Adamantine Gates
Guarded by Cerberus,
Take me to
Eternal bliss
In the Elysian Fields.
My Obol be your reward.
Oh wow, this is my favorite so far. I love it!
ReplyDeletenice invocation of charon...had not thought that direction but certainly fits....very nice friko
ReplyDeleteAn erudite and lyrical response to the prompt. Well done.
ReplyDeleteWell done!
ReplyDeleteIt is such a dark, sad and lonely picture this week.
ReplyDeleteGood response
My brain got stuck on Obol - so much so, I had to email you! Hehehe! ♥
ReplyDeleteA dark pic Friko, but a great poem.
ReplyDeleteBonza :-).
ReplyDeletePowerful words Friko, a great poem.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you have this mythic storehouse to draw on, Friko. Lovely! xxj
ReplyDeleteWOW....love it!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't know how you go to the well and retrieve such rich coffee instead of mud, but you are successful once again.
ReplyDeleteOf course I had to look up a couple of names here, so you not only helped me along in my blog education but the poem is great regardless.
ReplyDeleteWell said!
Wow, that's got power ... and you have me looking things up to refresh my memory of mythology.
ReplyDeleteDear Friko,
ReplyDeleteEvocative photograph and poignant response. Thank you.
I hope you are feeling better and that the body is rewarding you--with an obol or two--for your taking care of it.
Peace.
I like your take on this image.
ReplyDeleteWow! This is wonderful!! :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent take on your prompt...but I confess to looking up Obol...Google tells me it is a Greek coin or a fancy cereal bowl that prevents soggy cereal. So I continue to learn anew when visiting you,,,
ReplyDeleteSuch an eerie image.
Wonderful, Friko. I was thinking of Charon earlier today, while reading someone else's blog, not in response to this prompt.
ReplyDeleteYour poem is as beautifully written as your prose. Thanks for sharing your talent with us.
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
Well, this is bloody brilliant--didn't take long for you to spring back into action full stop!
ReplyDeleteat last, we whisper the same ancient hopes and prayers as every other soul that has ever lived . . . and left. . .
ReplyDeleteGentle courage, some call it 'faith' is not disappointed- even at end I feel.
Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
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A beautiful, mythical poem...fantasy has me dreaming of ages past
ReplyDeleteVery nicely executed in classical style.
ReplyDeletePerfect Friko!
ReplyDeleteWow! Very cool!
ReplyDeleteHugs
SueAnn
I stick with the 'Take me to
ReplyDeleteEternal bliss' part! ♥
A very haunting and sad piece. I like it very much.
ReplyDeleteBravo! I don't understand a word of it but it sure reads well.
ReplyDeleteLove the "stuck in the mud" image. I feel like that some days. Cheer up, the days fly by at our age and spring will be here before you know it. Dianne
ReplyDeleteThis is an epic Magpie ....
ReplyDeleteImpressive !
ReplyDeleteBut I have to admit that the whole idea makes me happy , yet again , not to be Greek , Ancient or Modern .
Great interpratation of the prompt, invoking Charon, Cerberus etc. Most enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteExcellent write!
ReplyDeleteGood to have a more classical take on the prompt.
ReplyDeletePerfect!
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
I do a bit of china collecting, and was astonished to find a very early Knowles, Taylor, Knowles mark - Adamantine - in the midst of your poem. Thus does education advance.
ReplyDeleteAllowing classical references to feel alive and vibrant in the present is a real gift - brava!