LETHE (The Myth Of Er)

I
A child of earth, and of starry heaven too,
fallen from great heights, into this world below;
to take a turn down here on this sorrowful weary wheel,
and try to burn out this desire that I feel.

And as I knelt to drink, I heard the prophet speak,
such words as these to me:

'When the draught you partake,
take care your thirst not to slake,
under the white cypress tree...'

II
I awake here, now I'm under Lethe's spell.
I drank too deeply from her intoxicating swell;
but now and then I get a glimpse it seems;
of something that the prophet said to me:

'When Lethe's draught takes effect,
all that you know you'll forget,
though it remains deep in your soul.
If in the life you've chosen,
on the path of virtue you go;
you may finally recollect.'

III
Lost in this shadowland;
I resolve to take a stand.
I gaze at the starry night.
I'm drawn towards the Light...

IV
I am a pilgrim on virtue's hallowed road.
The path less taken is where one finds the gold.
Ananke's spindle turns, revolves eternally;
the axis of this cosmic shadow that we see.

And when again I drink, and the prophet starts to speak;
I'll heed the words he says to me:

'When the draught you partake,
take care your thirst not to slake,
under the white cypress tree.'