‘Orpheus and Eurydice’, from “A Seasoning of Lust”

Orpheus and Eurydice, from worldreligion.net

Reading mythology was a kick a few years back.    This short piece was from that time.  This is a well known story, but I tried to ‘update’ it a bit.

Lady Nyo

—

Hear my rendering of an oft-told tale, mixed with a leavening of Bullfinch and the sight of Orpheus’ lyre in the cosmos.

Orpheus, son of Apollo and Calliope (I can’t remember Eurydice’s heritage), were to be blessed by Hymen.

He brought no happy omens. His torch smoked and drew tears in all eyes. The flowers wilted and the Gods and Goddesses coughed and sputtered.

Orpheus, master of the lyre, whose notes melted tiger’s hearts, made trees uproot and creep near, made rocks soften, loved his Eurydice.

Fate conspires with happiness. Eurydice, chased by shepherd Aristaeus was raped. Now Eurydice’s hymen was remade each night for Orpheus’ pleasure, and she died a broken, bloody death on the end of Aristaeus’…. sword.

How fast Orpheus descended to those Stygian depths! His tones pleaded for the return of Eurydice. Sisyphus sat on his rock to listen, Ixion’s wheel stood still and the Furies eyes were wet with tears.  Eurydice came, in her winding shroud, fresh with young death.

Here’s the deal. Walk out of Hell and don’t look back.

Orpheus! You almost made it! Eurydice, twice dead, disappears.

Sometimes, in both love and death, it only takes one glance.

—

Jane Kohut-Bartels

Copyrighted, 2008, 2010

Tags: "A Seasoning of Lust", Bullfinch, Hades, love, mythology, Orpheus and Eurydice, the underworld