Orpheus

Deep in the night, he weeps.
Gentle Morpheus shakes his head and mixes
his dreams this night with stealth and care,
for the gods themselves will tremble at his deed.
This night, he offers peace to Orpheus.

Deep in the night, he stirs.
The scene is familiar and he tosses,
sweating, desperate to wake,
as the gods rouse in their palaces.
They feel reality twisting -- and they know fear.

Deep in the night, he moans.
The dream-Charon requires his price;
the old man tries ... and fails ... to leap away
and drown in the unforgiving Styx.
The gods recoil; Hades is awake, and angry.

Deep in the night, he dreads.
His fear is real as he faces Cerebus again,
and his body trembles with effort, but he cannot
throw himself between those fearsome jaws.
Hades glowers at the mortal who once assailed his borders.

Deep in the night, he trembles.
Once more he wins through to the Underworld
and faces the throne -- his hands play without volition
and he silently curses the beauty of their song.
Hades smiles slowly, his memory supplying the melody.

Deep in the night, he despairs.
He sees her again, and wishes himself dead -- no,
never born -- for she is his heart and his wholeness,
and he knows how this memory must end.
And the gods grieve, for even gods are not always cruel.

Deep in the night, he reaches.
They begin the ascent, and he wonders how much
more he can stand, if the suspense can possibly
become thicker. And he hears a sound, behind.
Hades broods, wishing that he might change the past.

Deep in the night, he smiles.
For a movement ahead catches his eye,
reminds him of the peril, and he forges ahead
in his dream ... instead of turning.
Morpheus smiles, awed by the scope of the dreamer's joy.