Mystical poem written 5-5-25. Hymn To Aphrodite 5.

1. “Let me hear your song,” You said, So I laughed long and loud, “Beautiful,” You said, So I turned myself over to You “We two. We are misunderstood,” You said this and I fell to my knees, And made myself into a comfort, For Your people Blessing the path before me, And bidding farewell, To the winding road behind, I winced only once in momentary pain Oh sweet Beloved, Born of Sky, And churning purple Sea, Aphrodite, I adore You 2. I am striving, Beloved, To love as You love, Even before, I am loved To be soft and hard, Strong and gentle, To honor all of You, Shaper and shaped God is love and love is the law, Or so I’ve been taught, By prophets and teachers, Mystics and tragedies I believe it, too, On my better days, On the other days, I do the best I can 3. Once upon a time, I was a priestess, In fabled Mantinea, Well, perhaps I was asked about love, And spoke first of beauty, Guiding my eager student, Who, thankfully, knew nothing He and I climbed together, Up the Ladder Of Love, From the love of one to the many, From the love of many to the All Like my goddess, I was misunderstood, But I can always clear my throat, And try again tomorrow
Art: Franc Kavčič, “Socrates With A Disciple And Diotima”, (unknown date, before 1810)
