Twice-Born
The God caught Himself in the mirror and stood in awe
Absorbed, never thinking
That behind Him stalked His killers
Torn limb from limb
Body boiled, limbs roasted
The wine stained eyes fell from His mirror
Rolled up to His Father, whose wrath blazed
The furious bolt crashed
Dead fell the feasters
Dead fell the God-hungry
Living fell the beating heart of Lenaeus
Taken up by Athena it was blessed with knowing
Taken up by Demeter it was blessed with vitality
Taken up by Rhea it was blessed with purification
Taken up by Zeus it was blessed with power
Devoured by Semele, Dimetor came forth
The ivy-haired God shone forth
Twice-born of Semele learned again
To crawl, to step, to walk, to dance, to sing, to rave, to fight
He took up His gifts and power in glory
His sword felled every foe before Him
His thyrsus struck frenzy into His followers
His grapes crossed the world and brought wine to all peoples
His wine poured and dythrambic verse fell in power from His mouth
His ivy marked His paths and ways for worshipers and pilgrims
To follow Him where He would lead
O Zagreus Dimetor, O Reborn One! You show us the Ways!
O Isodaetes, You give free that we may give!
O Mighty Dragon, Your jaws have torn the foe!
Io Dionysos!
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Excellent work here! I love the series of Goddesses in the middle…that really adds a lot to this myth.
This brought tears to my eyes and made my breath catch in my throat.
Would it be alright to use in my private prayer book?
Absolutely! I am honored you would do that with this prayer!
Interesting….Thrice Born/Thrice Burned, the story of Gullveig. I must follow this thread….
BEAUTIFUL. This is a very evocative prayer! Truly Dionysian, I love it.
Thank you!