To a Poet, Painter and Musician

Three Muses one day
Had a serious fray,
Concerning a youth who had wandered astray,
And fast up Parnassus was taking his way.

They each urged a claim,
Each gave him her name,
And each vowed to crown him with chaplets of fame.

Frown followed retort,
Till to cut it all short,
They decided to carry the case up to court.

Apollo averred,
That from all he had heard,
The claim of exclusiveness seemed quite absurd;

And he gave his decree
That this soul should be free
For the “joint occupancy” of the whole three.