115—Sirens, Part II: Orpheus

Orpheus tasted the air. He saw the stars above, harmonizing in their secret way with the men who toiled at ropes and sails. He heard the music of the spheres, wafting in waves, seeking accompaniment.

He would welcome the Sirens' song.

The winds had ceased, the sails down. The ship floated, buoyed and still, in relation to the world. Soon his men would feel the euphony Orpheus channeled to them from above. They waited.

They had no fear.

There was no wax to plug their ears, only Orpheus' lyre to embrace the universe still playing to them from above. Orpheus understood the meaning of the music of the spheres, the power of the Sirens’ song, the connection between the two that needed a bridge to harmonize the universe.

All else was dead silent, save the stars and orbs, lush in their introduction.

Orpheus prayed to the celestial exchange and the music became louder. Now the men were chanted, stomping their feet in unison. The ship swayed to the rhythm.

Then the island song entered, taking the helm of the opus with the loveliest force of lyrical radiance a world could withstand. The men were dumbfounded, having no idea the ears could bring such pleasure. They felt the need for communion with the source of this divine elocution, wanting to be consumed by throats that sang so.

Orpheus played his lyre; the world connected with the stars and the planets above. Melodies and counter-themes flowed through his lyre in both directions, the sky and the island each receiving blessings while bestowing them. The men were on their knees, weeping in happiness.

On their island, three Sirens sang divinely.

An epiphany swelled like the sea. The lyre, Anthemusa Island, and the heavens continued until the men of the Argo began to softly glow.

Consumption wasn’t necessary after all!

Hundreds of generations ago, he and his men would outdistance the aural waves that splashed against their ears and would live to tell this tale, but they would never get the song out of their heads. Others would call them mad with this affliction, but they would all die happy, with a song in their hearts as well.

---------------------

THIS SUBMISSION

Companion piece to Sirens—Part 1: Odysseus

For Wednesday, April 24, Day 115 of the Story-a-Day Challenge. Now well into triple digits!

364 WORDS

All pictures are AI-generated, but the musical strains are not!

---

There are currenlty three Vocal creators still participating in the Story-a-Day Challenge:

• L.C. Schäfer, challenge originator
• Rachel Deeming
• Gerard DiLeo (some other guy)

PLEASE SUPPORT THEM BY READING THEIR DAILY SUBMISSIONS