Lyrscriben

APOLLO SMITES THE PARNASSUS SERPENT

In primordial time earth was flooded,
Island land teemed with unnatural lushness,
Forest and plane steamed fecundity,
With appalling plants and dangerous serpents.
People living were terror stricken
By Python, a muscled acre of sliming serpent.
Python lived and lurked within the caves of Mount Parnassus.
What mortal knows the mind of gods,
Or the length of their enduring patience?
One day Apollo seized his bow & quiver
Sped to the Parnassian caves
Roared as if a howling sea
Into the manifold chasms.
Thus Python flushed for terrainean battle.
All that saw would all remember
Python’s eyes, and Python’s breath.
Repulsed, Apollo arched his bow
With string to arrow.
Some reported it took a single dart,
Others said an emptied quiver;
Truth records Python's death.
Apollo’s battle against the snake,
From thence commemorated by the Pythian games,
Where an athlete victor of speed and strength
Was crowned with wreath of beech leaves, and later laurel.