The Invocation

Sing to me, Oh Muses ephemeral!

Sing to me of heroes and mighty gods!

Sing a tale of Troy, for the war that I fought

is not to be spoken of. Forgotten.

So let my dreams and fears be reflected

within the fireside tales of Troy that was.

Of Men and Gods who strode the world and

their story echoed through all of time.

I pray to Hermes to bring me a friend

who knows the path I strode. Who Lived it full

I beg Hades to grant leave for but a single eve

to tell the story that man has lost.

Perhaps summon Aristophanes to bring forth a jest

and make the mighty shake with joy and fear.

Or bring Great Sophocles to make the evil know

the depths of sins, and the judgement that waits.

Or bring Euripides to my beach on holiday.

To speak of how things will be better.

Perhaps a trip to Egypt will treat me fairer

Than memories of the narrow streets of Babylon.

Oh bring me a shade of one who fought

bring me a shade of one who loved

I care not if they're great or small

only that their dreams echo mine

Oh Athena, guardian of those

who fight unwilling save for home and duty

Whisper to me the wisdom that you offered

To man without price. That which was cast aside

as a drag upon the ambition of man

by those who think to be far wiser

than their hubric pretensions can support.

I kneel in the sand, and reflect again.

The waves crash, the fire burns. Wind sings sweetly.

I look and see the ships as they pull upon the shore,

And with a final thanks to his guide and generous tip

to the ferryman, My shade arrives.

Far taller than I thought he would be.

His visage familiar, yet foreign as all other men

to the sight of one who lives within walls.

Welcome friend, speak well and I shall listen.