Free Ride

“All aboard, the festive ferry,
cried Charon, the more the merry.”
but, a maiden quick to query,
mocked the boatman, “all the more?”
Cerberus was plainly prowling,
all three heads a-jouncing, jowling,
jutted jaws a-scowling, howling,
howling from the manes he wore.
Manes of vile and vicious vipers,
vipers flagging by the score…
wagging, nagging, tongues galore!
From empurpled mist of mourning
burst the black-winged night adorning,
titivating mystic maiden,
a-giving gifts not seen before.
Erebus forswore maligning,
orphic ritual defining,
solid silver lyre a-whining,
a shining sword the black night bore.
Enchanted silver harpsichord,
the little lyre, dark lords abhor…
lilting—wilting shades adore!



Glossary:

Cerberus: 3-headed dog that in Greek mythology guards the entrance to Hades

Erebus:  A personification of darkness in Greek mythology

Black Winged Night: According to the Orphic tradition Black Winged Night, a goddess who even the major Gods held in awe was quartered by the wind and laid a silver egg in the womb of darkness.