![]() Photo courtesy Vatican Museums, World History Encyclopedia, Creative CommonsĪccording to Hesiod, writing around 700 BCE, Calliope was the most important Muse.Ĭalliope (also spelt Kalliope) is the Muse of epic poetry and heroic song in Greek mythology. The sculpture is a copy of a 2nd century BCE Hellenistic sculpture which was itself a copy of a 4th century BCE Greek original. All rights reserved.A Roman 2nd century CE sculpture of Calliope, the Muse of epic poetry. (And I strongly encourage you to let them!) Let them surprise you, thrill you, and lead you along strange lonely roads. They will twist away from your tight grip and run wild, if you let them. Characters are slippery things, and hard to manage. You never know, when you begin, how it will all end … not for sure. ![]() And eventually remember, it took Homer years to complete his epics you will create something beautiful and passionate and true.Ĭreating an epic poem is a deep dive into the unknown. You will surprise yourself a hundred times, and more. You'll start to filter through your ideas, rejecting some and finding others to continue working with. When you are ready, try it again! Don't be impatient it will take a few sessions to really get started. You may wish to keep a memento of your new relationship with this Muse in your studio or at your desk a few sheets of blank stationery and a beautiful pen, fresh flowers, or a candle can be a good reminder of your time with Calliope, and will serve as an encouragement for you to return to your poem soon. Tell her she is welcome to return anytime. When you have reached a stopping point or your hand is tired thank Calliope for her assistance today. I often lose track of time and emerge from the writing trance as if in a daze … it is hard to return to earth after wandering through the labyrinth of ideas and air that make up the writer's realm. Work as long as you like, with Calliope nearby for encouragement and inspiration. Your grandma's coffee-pot, a magical flying dog, and a wishing well can all find a place within the fanciful scope of an epic poem. The great thing about epic poetry is that, like a novel, it can be used to encompass and contain a wide variety of characters, settings, and plot twists. Animals, spirits, gods, and monsters may all have a part to play in this work. Ideas for a plot, setting, and characters may come to mind. Simply allow the ink to flow over the page in a slow tide, capturing your first thoughts. Express yourself honestly don't edit your work as you write, don't rip up the page and start over, and don't cross anything out. Random words and images may enter your mind try to capture them on the page quickly, for they are fleet-footed beasts and will not wait for you to catch up. Then, let your mind wander and let your pen wander with it. Invite Calliope to join you today, and to help you create a poem. Light the candle, to symbolize the fire of inspiration. Find a safe comfortable place to work where you will not be disturbed. To begin, gather a candle, some good paper and a few pens. You can also write a free-verse epic poem if you wish, and forget about rhyming altogether. ![]() You may want to begin by messing around with different rhyme schemes, to see what you like best. Not an epic poem in the style of ancient Greece, but a hot, new American-style epic poem. Who is Calliope? The Muse of epic poetry may have inspired Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey, but what has she done for us lately? Sadly, epic poetry has somewhat diminished in popularity since the days of Homer, but I am here today to inspire you to create your own epic poems. Invoking the Athenian Muse of Epic Poetryīy Molly Anderson | Posted 1/1/06 | 4/4/21
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