Calliope Unbound
- Muse, permit me to unlock your lips and
parole the voice once sealed by stifling men
begging your clemency and, boldly, gifts
to praise the genius of Mytilene.
When invoked by my species you suffered
the bondage of an enforced narrative
bent over backwards to tell tales their way
though often glorious, still occluded,
bereft of that joy that a free heart brings.
Emerge from the cave of inspiration
and let your loosed bonds clatter to the floor
there are words to be said for the nameless
and without restriction, sing of Sappho.
Choking from the very first, the infant
emerged blue from the original hearth
slick life-root binding fast both voice and feet
until wizened woman's hand loos'd birth's bonds.
Prophetic even in Eleutho's time
the unleashed throat echoing halls of life
to father waiting at woman-cave's mouth
made ashamed, quiet, at korasion cry
the same vibratto pleasing mother Cleis.
And you, dark-armed Muse, did you stop to kiss
the shocked babe's brow with honeyed lips of fate
or knowing, look on from some darkened nook
in her hands already what you'd bestow?
We abandon nothing but to the gods,
not even to them did the baby's sire
house her in the jar of the wayside road
but hung the announcing cloth from the door.