Hephaestus

Strong-armed Hephaestus, maker of miracles,

creator of the inconceivable, deviser

of clever machines, from your skillful hands

come intricacies undreamt of, gold and jewels

to please a goddess. Artisans and blacksmiths,

craftsmen and wrights of every trade, all look to you

for insight and revelation, all feel your hand

upon their own when in need of inspiration.

Hephaestus, visionary, you see beyond

what is practical, beyond what is beautiful.

In your hands molten metal flows like water,

takes its form like clay, swift and precise, each work

becoming more than what it is, each piece instilled

with the spark of the divine. Deep-hearted god,

Hephaestus, I praise you for the gifts you grant us,

I praise you for the ideal of artistry.

Reviews

[eatme]

This opened my mind in a new way.
I picture the guy with the lute singing to the god.
I also picture this sophist philosopher flattering him with dialog.
They are different styles.
I come away thinking it is closer to the latter than the former.