"Orpheus and Eurydice" by Edward_Poynter‘Requiem for Eurydice’ by Mary Virginia Vietor The Society August 29, 2022 Beauty, Culture, High School Submissions, Poetry 10 Comments . Requiem for Eurydice The sunlight dims before my eyes, __My fingertips lose yours, And as my whispered farewell flies, __The last crescendo soars. Then one breath hovers, trembles, dies— __The audience all roars. . . Mary Virginia Vietor is a high school senior from Phoenix, Arizona. She enjoys playing the harp, writing, painting, and taking long walks with her corgi. Her work has previously appeared on the Dappled Things literary blog. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. 10 Responses John E. Norvell August 29, 2022 Great job Mary! A beautiful rendering of that scene. It left me wanting more! Reply jd August 29, 2022 My sentiments exactly, John. I would like more too, Mary. This verse is so good. If I may be so bold – would you consider beginning the final line with All instead of where it is? Reply Joseph S. Salemi August 29, 2022 If she were to do that, she would spoil the meter. The pattern of the even-numbered lines is iambic trimeter. If she started the last line with “All,” it would be completely out of sync with other two. Reply LTC Roy E. Peterson August 29, 2022 Mary, like the others, your beautiful stanza made me wish for more. Reply Allegra Silberstein August 29, 2022 Thank you for your lovely Poem. Reply Joshua C. Frank August 29, 2022 Great job Mary! After reading it, I was disappointed by how short it was, it was that good. I’m blown away by your bio saying you’re a senior in high school—to write such great poetry at such a young age! Reply Morrison Handley-Schachler August 30, 2022 A very beautiful short poem. You have done a tremendous amount with a few words. I’m guessing this is in reference to the Monteverdi opera. Reply Cynthia Erlandson August 30, 2022 Beautiful, and very impressive! Do keep writing! Reply Margaret Coats September 1, 2022 This impressively spirited poem may refer to a musical interpretation of the myth, such as the Monteverdi opera Morrison Handley-Schachler suggests. But in visual arts, there are some images in which Orpheus plays his harp during the ascent from Hades, coming out as he went in, relying on the power of music. Eurydice holds his arm or shoulder, or merely follows him. He does not look back until he is out of darkness, but then sees Eurydice has not yet emerged and is slipping away from him. One modern painting shows a multitude of skulls surrounding her. If Mary Virginia Vietor imagines something similar, then Orpheus plays the last crescendo too soon, and Eurydice sings farewell diminuendo. And the audience roar comes from the surrounding shades. My commendation as well, Mary Virginia, on the haiku you submitted for the competition. Well done there, too! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant September 2, 2022 There is beauty in brevity and tragedy… this skillful and impactful poem says so. Very well done, indeed! Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
John E. Norvell August 29, 2022 Great job Mary! A beautiful rendering of that scene. It left me wanting more! Reply
jd August 29, 2022 My sentiments exactly, John. I would like more too, Mary. This verse is so good. If I may be so bold – would you consider beginning the final line with All instead of where it is? Reply
Joseph S. Salemi August 29, 2022 If she were to do that, she would spoil the meter. The pattern of the even-numbered lines is iambic trimeter. If she started the last line with “All,” it would be completely out of sync with other two. Reply
LTC Roy E. Peterson August 29, 2022 Mary, like the others, your beautiful stanza made me wish for more. Reply
Joshua C. Frank August 29, 2022 Great job Mary! After reading it, I was disappointed by how short it was, it was that good. I’m blown away by your bio saying you’re a senior in high school—to write such great poetry at such a young age! Reply
Morrison Handley-Schachler August 30, 2022 A very beautiful short poem. You have done a tremendous amount with a few words. I’m guessing this is in reference to the Monteverdi opera. Reply
Margaret Coats September 1, 2022 This impressively spirited poem may refer to a musical interpretation of the myth, such as the Monteverdi opera Morrison Handley-Schachler suggests. But in visual arts, there are some images in which Orpheus plays his harp during the ascent from Hades, coming out as he went in, relying on the power of music. Eurydice holds his arm or shoulder, or merely follows him. He does not look back until he is out of darkness, but then sees Eurydice has not yet emerged and is slipping away from him. One modern painting shows a multitude of skulls surrounding her. If Mary Virginia Vietor imagines something similar, then Orpheus plays the last crescendo too soon, and Eurydice sings farewell diminuendo. And the audience roar comes from the surrounding shades. My commendation as well, Mary Virginia, on the haiku you submitted for the competition. Well done there, too! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant September 2, 2022 There is beauty in brevity and tragedy… this skillful and impactful poem says so. Very well done, indeed! Reply
