The Lutist

By Chaitra Ramalingegowda

He was a blessed lutist,

whose music called to

birds and beasts alike,

moved hills and mountains,

entrancing creatures of yore.

She was a graceful beauty,

whose loveliness called to him

like none other,

leaving behind even

the beautiful nymphs.

He loved her with all his heart,

more than life itself,

more than his music,

for she was Eve personified,

perfect in every way imaginable.

But alas, their love wasn’t

meant to be;

Death took her away untimely,

pushing him into

the black hole of grief,

nothing left for him

but his lute,

from whence flowed

melancholic melodies,

sorrowful strains,

desolate dirges,

moving rocks and mountains,

humans and gods,

living and the dead alike,

so deep was his love for her;

he was lost without her,

till one day,

when he descended upon Hades

to bring his beloved back,

for he couldn’t fathom

living nor breathing without her.

Drifting through Styx,

charming his way through Cerberus,

beguiling Pluto himself with his lover’s lament,

dropping to his knees,

begging for her to be returned,

his eyes welled up,

melting the King of Hades.

He could take her back,

but for one constraint,

that he not look back

till she’s out of Hades,

for if he did,

he would lose her forever;

nodding his assent

again and again,

thanking Pluto

again and again,

the overjoyed lover began

the ascent out of Underworld,

anticipating his reunion

with his beloved,

expecting her return

to the land of the living,

rejoicing his luck, to live

happily with her by his side,

for eons and eons;

all while anxiety ate at him,

for he couldn’t hear her,

or her soft tread behind him,

making him doubt it all.

A few yards away from the light,

he turned around,

only to see his beloved

being whisked away,

back down to Hades,

lost forever,

leaving him lamenting his loss with his lute,

only to kill himself

to be with her for all eternity.

By Chaitra Ramalingegowda