Beloved Aphrodite, goddess who grants to us
the greatest of joys, the harshest of sorrows,
the sharpest of pleasures, the dearest of pains.
Aphrodite, freshest of Olympos’ flowers,
your lightest touch can turn the hearts of men toward love;
with voice sweet as honey, sweet as wine, you speak
words of persuasion, we hear and heed, rapt in wonder.
O Aphrodite, grace and beauty surround you,
where you pass, the roses bloom, with sweetest scent
and sharpest thorn: with reckless hands we grasp them.
Aphrodite, born of blood in the cold salt sea,
born of the fallen sky, goddess whose kindness
can be so brutal, whose cruelty we cherish,
blessed are your children, blessed those you favor,
blessed those who have felt your might, blessed those
who dwell in your domain. Aphrodite, honored one,
incomparable one, with each breath I praise you.
Archive | September 2011
To Hebe
I call to Hebe, incomparable daughter
of dark-eyed Hera, cupbearer whose calling
it is to carry sweet drink to the blessed
gods, bride of splendid Heracles of whom great tales
are told. In your care is the food of the gods,
the fragrant ambrosia, the rich clinging nectar,
the delectable draught that sustains the deathless
ones. Hebe, white-armed girl, attendant on great Hera,
companion of charming Aphrodite, friend of
the lovely Graces, comrade of wise Harmonia.
In the vigor of youth we know your might, Hebe;
in the simple joy of childhood, the fair-haired bride
on her wedding day, the brightest blossoms of the field,
we see your face. Hebe, protector of the young,
singer of the songs of spring, I call to you.
To Hygeia
I call to Hygeia, daughter of wisdom-loving
Asklepios whose shining temples you share,
ever-watchful sister of dear Panakeia
who knows all remedies. Bright-eyed Hygeia,
foe of the Nosoi who lurk in the unclean corners,
rich-robed goddess, mild and gentle one whose soft touch
and soothing voice give ease to the suffering.
In Athens and in Corinth were you well honored;
in fair Sikyonia did you receive long locks
of the hair of women, did you receive the gifts
of the grateful. Hygeia, holder of the serpent
and the chalice, friend of the honest physician,
granter of the most precious of blessings, who gifts
us with a hale and robust form, with vigor
and vitality, blessed one, I call to you.
To Heracles
I call to Heracles, defender of men,
son of thundering Zeus, husband of bright-hearted Hebe,
who destroyed the raging lion of Nemea
and set the beast to shine among the distant stars,
who changed the course of the river Alpheios,
who slew the wicked Diomedes who fed
his mares on the flesh of men, who ended the life
of the many-headed hydra. In high-walled Thebes,
the city of your birth, were you well honored;
throughout the land did men and women pray to you,
at splendid shrines and at great festivals. A path
of valor you chose in mortal life, heroic one;
in godhood too you guard the world of men.
Heracles, friend of humanity, I call to you.
To Dike
I call to true-hearted Dike, righteous goddess
who knows the good we do, who knows as well the ill.
Daughter of thundering Zeus whose integrity you share,
child of order, mother of the peace of the good,
friend of the Furies, those vengeful ones who pursue
the evil and the wrongful, the tyrant and the brute.
Dike, straight-standing one who holds the scales of truth,
lover of justice, lover of the law, who knows
when judge or advocate has been untrue, who brings
the one who has betrayed his trust before the court
of mighty Zeus, who hears all oaths. Clear-sighted Dike
who hears the pleas of the wronged, who answers the cries
of the oppressed, who rages against the unjust,
granter of good to the wise and the mindful,
goddess who knows the hearts of all, I call to you.
Litany to Ares
Fierce-hearted Ares, crafty master of battle,
lord of war, spirit of war, leader of men,
inspirer of deeds, stormer of stone-walled cities,
with mighty arm you brandish the spear, you shake the shield.
I praise and honor you, I thank you for your blessings.
Ares, destroyer of men, fearsome one who stalks
the battlefield, who holds the ruddy standard of war;
insatiate you are of battle and of blood.
In your name do men do what is base, what is needful.
I praise and honor you, I thank you for your blessings.
Stalwart Ares, strong of heart and firm of will,
stout of arm and great of spirit, your mettle
undoubted, your vigor unequaled. Of nerve
and of courage you know much, O god who endures.
I praise and honor you, I thank you for your blessings.
Ares who stands between the weak and the strong,
who stands before the gates, tirelessly, endlessly,
defender of cities, protector of homes,
Ares who holds off the hordes of chaos, kind one,
I praise and honor you, I thank you for your blessings.
Brave Ares, granter of strength to the weak, courage
to the meek, voice to the silent, will to the timid,
hope and raw grit to those whose cause seems lost. Ares,
who knows the worth of those whose back is to the wall,
I praise and honor you, I thank you for your blessings.
Litany to Hephaistos
Deft-fingered Hephaistos, craftsman without peer,
worker of Gaia’s silvery gifts, maker of jewels
to adorn Olympos’ shining ones. Hephaistos,
friend of the sculptor, the mason, the smith; sooty one,
I praise and honor you, I thank you for your blessings.
Hephaistos, inventor of clever devices,
patron of the engineer and the architect,
maker of marvels, father of the world’s wonders,
clear-eyed visionary, creator of dreams.
I praise and honor you, I thank you for your blessings.
Hephaistos, friend of the copper, friend of the bronze,
in your hands does the stoniest ore yield its riches,
in your hands does metal grow supple, does it find
its fairest form; your art it is to lay its beauty bare.
I praise and honor you, I thank you for your blessings.
Hephaistos, god of the burning depths, the rivers
of molten stone, whose might we see in bright-lit
trails of fire, in the ashy echoes of Pompeii.
Hephaistos, who dwells within the living mountain,
I praise and honor you, I thank you for your blessings.
Glorious Hephaistos of ancient renown, of your might
and your art great tales are told. Exalted one,
friend of the king and the workman, master unmatched
of hammer and tong, your works we view with wonder.
I praise and honor you, I thank you for your blessings.
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