Men Made Brothers Poem by Daniel Brick

Men Made Brothers

Rating: 5.0


The pink dawn light has faded
into the yellow glow of late morning.
Its beauty will last until twilight
and slowly envelop me in the calm
of summer weather in late spring.
Time itself wears the aspect of the season.

How can these measures of my poem
equal the measure of your grief?
The beauty of art and nature
distract me from my mission:
I want to restore Eurydice
to your existence by whatever sacrifice

is required of mortal men who hope
to sway the heavy laws of death...
Heracles brought forth Alcestis, already
shrouded in shadows, into the common light,
and returned her to her helpless spouse.
Are not Alcestis and Eurydice sisters of soul?

And are we not men made brothers
by grief? Have we not earned
by rite of suffering the right
to demand our share of human happiness?
Your service to music and mine to nature
speak our appeal directly to the gods.

Orpheus, enter now the realm of sleep.
Let its quiet radiance make you one
in love with Eurydice. And when
dawn's pink light sweeps across tomorrow,
she will be lying by your side, both of you
breathing the same air, seeing the same dream.

I will be her substitute in the realm below.
It is my will to be a sacrifice that the life
of your loves can flourish in fields and woods.
It is my mission to be a human being
displaced among the teaming shadows
to bring them whatever comfort I can offer.


is required of mortal men who hope

Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Topic(s) of this poem: life and death,myth
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Bri Edwards 15 June 2017

the English is fine, but i don't follow the story well, because i don't KNOW the story. it sounds like someone is being altruistic! she will be lying by your side, both of you breathing the same air, seeing the same dream...........the second line's mention of 'breathing the same air'...... ....................................reminds me of a recent poem by Bharati Nayak in honor of you, upon your 70th ................................................ 'birth day'. bri ;) the last line: is required of mortal men who hope ............why does this non-sentence stand by itself?

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Bri Edwards 14 June 2017

i read somewhere that you just got OLD(er) . Bharati's gift was nice. supper time! i'll come back, perhaps tomorrow. bri :)

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Nosheen Irfan 07 June 2017

A very meaningful write with references from mythology. You have beautifully incorporated the legend of Orpheus and Eurydice. You are right that we mortal beings are held together in a strong bond by suffering. The emotions felt centuries ago still run in us, connecting all humans through time and space. On a lovely summer day as the beginning of your poem suggests, you have given your fellow humans immortal verses. A 10.

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