Lord Apollo, radiant, great healer,
Burning warmth, the fire of setting sun,
Glorious, oh Pythian revealer,
Thank you for the wondrous deed you’ve done!
My distress you soothed – you owed me nothing -
You shone your light of kindness nonetheless.
I felt your glowing presence, warm and loving,
When I with sacred visions you did bless.
Burnished bronze and brass did I behold,
Works of art all shaped by skillful hands,
Gleaming in a sunset orange and gold,
Before the whelming sea and wind-swept sand!
Patterns fine and icons gleaming bright -
Were they worked by you, or Vulcan’s tools?
You it was I felt in piercing sunlight,
Strong above wine-dark Aegean pools.
Lord Apollo, bold and strong and beaming,
Thank you for the blessings you’ve bestowed -
Near-overwhelming glory, gentle healing,
As through my veins your sacred power flowed.
Heartened by your confidence and strength,
I continue on through day and night
Along this journey of whatever length,
Aided by your kindness and your might.
I wrote this poem about a recent spiritual experience. I thank Apollo for any assistance he may have given in the composition of this piece - I did not specifically ask for his help, but I did write this about him right after praying and offering incense to him (among other deities), and he is a creative god, so who knows - perhaps he guided me in this endeavour.