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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SEA-BORN VINE (A DIONYSIAC LEGEND) by WILLIAM SHARP

First Line: THE SUN LEAPT UP THE ROSE-FLUSHED SKY
Last Line: AI EVOE BE VAIN INDEED!
Subject(s): GODDESSES & GODS; LEGENDS; MYTHOLOGY; SAILING & SAILORS; SEA; VINES AND VINEYARDS; OCEAN;
The sun leapt up the rose-flushed sky
And yellowed all the sea's pale blue;
The Tyrrhene crew
Uprose and hailed the God on high.

But Dionysos made no sign:
The shipmen hailed their Lord again;
Acclaimed His reign,
Then stared upon their guest divine.

"The deep shall swallow thee; fair sir:
The sea-things shall make thee their prey --
The God obey
Or meet swift death ere thou canst stir!"

@3"Ere ye arose, my spirit bowed
To the Great God unrisen then: --
Take heed, O men,
Your clamour grow not overloud."@1

"A priest of Bacchus thou! Behold:
On sea-wave here could whelm thy God --
His mystic rod
Would float foam-crown'd 'mid this wavegold.

"@3Ai Evoe!@1 Thy voice might fill
The waste of sea, the waste of sky,
Yet thou wouldst die,
Thy god supine on some green hill!"

@3Ai Evoe!@1 The cry thrilled wide:
The startled rowers shrank -- they saw
With trembling awe
The conscious waters surge aside.

@3Ai Evoe!@1 The waves turn green;
In tendril masses twist and twine
A mighty vine
Uprises and o'erhead doth lean:

@3Ai Evoe!@1 The tendrils cling
About the shipmen as they swim
The Bacchic hymn
The waves chant and the wild winds sing.

@3Evoe!@1 Dionysos cries,
The seamen and the boat no more
The shingly shore
Shall feel 'neath known or alien skies.

Blue dolphins guide the wave-born vine
To caves near mystic Ind:
Only the wind
Murmurs for aye the tale divine.

Ye who deride the gods, beware:
They are with us evermore; they brook
No scornful look;
Their vengeance fills our mortal air.

Yea, of the jealous gods, take heed:
One day the earth or sea shall ope
And vanquish hope --
@3Ai Evoe@1 be vain indeed!



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