Hymn to Apollo

[oggbashan]

Challenge - Hymn to Apollo

The next challenge:

Write a poem referring to Apollo and/or the Muses. What you do with them is up to you.

Challenge runs until 16 March.

I wrote one earlier. I hope the poets can do much better:

https://www.literotica.com/p/the-garderobe

The start:

Invocation

Apollo strum your heavenly lyre
Send me some inspiring fire
Or better still the Muses nine
So that my poetry will rhyme.

But if you cannot spare the lot
I’ll make do with what you’ve got.
I rather not have Terpsichore
She needs a clear dance floor.

Erato would be really handy,
Her I’d buy a box of candy.
You can keep the other eight
Because my readers won’t wait.

If you won’t send the nine,
I’ll just lie and cry and whine.
…
…

 

[butters]

well there i was grinning in multiples of 5 and for some reason on H's setup it isn't posting the gifs. *tries a dancin' nana -
hm, does the nana. i dunno.

i DO know your last had me grinning ear to ear, ogg

 

[HarryHill]

Jive Hymn to Apollo

Hey, yo, Apollo,
long time, no see,
where, in any Gods name have you been?
Spill the dets, or maybe just some light
from beyond the impinging clouds,
empirical, metaphysical or metaphorical.
Hollar back.
Snap.

 

[HarryHill]

well there i was grinning in multiples of 5 and for some reason on H's setup it isn't posting the gifs.

..
You broke my Bing page.

 

[Mrtenant]

Apollo, you fought well and true
Apollo, only Rocky could stand up to you
Apollo, Apollo lived by your creed
Apollo, oh Apollo, died by it too
Apollo was a champion through and through
Apollo the man, the sun shined on you
Apollo

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Sorry Ogg, your Muses didn't grab my muse

 

[butters]

an oldie, ogg, but it's all i have at the moment. still 5 days to go on this challenge, though, so maybe i'll rise to it.


Can muses be aroused to help me out?
Can words be found that hold poetic clout?
Determined as I am to see this through,
Decisions that I make, may bother you.

This one is just for you, your eye, your mind
Your ear, sweet reader, if I could but find
The words to turn to whispers my coarse shout;
Can muses be aroused to help me out?

To think that you would read this, perhaps smile,
Would help a poor lost poet for a while;
To think of you afrown engenders doubt;
Can words be found that hold poetic clout?

Ah, love, that old and many splendoured thing
In all its forms, will have me dance and bring
An empty bowl, a rose, a worn tap shoe -
Determined as I am to see this through.

So on the stage I face into your light;
There, blinded, smile and juggle words in fright
And, hoping for applause, expect your 'boo!'
Decisions that I make may bother you.

 

[oggbashan]

Apollo – Out of Office

Apollo, why no sound of heavenly lyre?
Why no flame of inspiring poetic fire?
How can I write a glorious hymn
With no idea how to begin?

Apollo, strum your sounding lyre
Let my compositions never tire.
Why refrain from helping me,
When I should write praise of thee?

If my efforts are beneath your contempt,
Perhaps one Muse could me be lent?
My brain with unwritten poetry teems
I just need Apollo’s aid it seems.

Can I compose without thy consent?
To praise Apollo my only intent.
This poor verse is far from good
With Apollo’s aid be better I would.

Yet perhaps Apollo is asleep or out
To give Apollo praise, that I doubt
These verses show Muses’ help is my need
Poetry without inspiration is bad, indeed.

 

[cascadiabound]

The Nine

Muses come to me
Female power in the arts
May I know all nine

Nourish me with thy
grapes, veil’d Polyhymnia
sacred chords infuse

Teach me your laughter
Blooming smiles and comedy
Oh sweet Thalia

Draw blood with your sword
Tragic tales so bittersweet
my Melpomene

Histories unfurl’d scrolls
Clio… please give me the keys
to your library

Erato enfuse
my heartsong and whisper sighs
of love to my ears

Your lyre counts the beat
bright eyes, hands join, skirts swirl
Terpsichore is here

Laurel wreath entwine
Mark my lyrics and my rhyme
Euterpe so fine

Writing verse and line
Calliope guide my hand
gifts of Homer bless’d

Show me all the stars
Global cartography too
My Urania

Come all ye Muses
touch my imagination
breath into my soul

 

[oggbashan]

This challenge is ended. Thank you for the contributions which you can assess for yourselves.

I like Cascadia's even if there is no mention of Apollo.

Which do you think met the criteria?

 

[cascadiabound]

This challenge is ended. Thank you for the contributions which you can assess for yourselves.

I like Cascadia's even if there is no mention of Apollo.

Which do you think met the criteria?

I'm glad you liked my effort ogg.
I thought the challenge said to write about Apollo and/or the muses.
I chose to write on the muses. Did that not meet the criteria?

 

[oggbashan]

I'm glad you liked my effort ogg.
I thought the challenge said to write about Apollo and/or the muses.
I chose to write on the muses. Did that not meet the criteria?

Yes, it did.

I was just surprised that you mentioned all nine without Apollo appearing.

The question on the criteria applied to all the submissions, not just yours.