ELYSIAN RUNE

(in the trochaic tetrameter of Finland's Kalevala)

Greece was Europe in the making :
Laurelled athletes in Olympos,
lyric poets in Parnassos,
Pythia’s riddles always waking
curiosity and learning.
Yearning with sure optimism,
oracles of heroism :
“Know yourself” is highest wisdom.
Metron ariston, the “golden
Mean” means living meden agan.

Vineyards on the slopes maturing,
drunk Dionysos dances during
rites, as Leda dreams Rilkean
Zeus as Swan in Tuonela.
There audacious Lemnikäinen
with Artemis' rapid arrows
hunts the woods of Tapiola,
soothing soon Sibelius’ sorrows
with the mead of European
Freude, chorusing Beethoven.

© Alfred de Zayas