Thamyris : or, Is there a future for poetry?

In a vivid allegory, the nine Muses descend to Heaven for a celestial recital, their ancient hymns stirring the angelic hosts until tears mingle with the divine chorus. When the archangels request a taste of post‑classical verse, Satan steps in, offering a whirlwind tour of medieval ballads, courtly love, and the stark free‑verse of modern America—only to meet heavenly disapproval as rhythm and rhyme dissolve into plain speech.

Using this mythic encounter as a springboard, the author examines whether poetry is merely fading into prose or undergoing a quiet emancipation from its musical roots. He weighs the loss of traditional meter against the possibilities of new forms, questioning what a future without song might mean for the human spirit. Thought‑provoking and laced with wit, the essay invites listeners to reconsider the role of poetry in an age of rapid change, without ever revealing the ultimate verdict.