I've seen this word used a few times lately in the messageboard.
It's a simple, yet elegant word, derived from the Greek word meaning "a song".
In classical prosody, it's a lyric poem that was chanted, such as in the well known "Pindaric ode" or the "Horatian ode".
It has evolved in meaning to become a lyric poem that can be rimed or unrimed, of lofty tone, treating progressively one dignified theme, and often in the form of an address.
Ladies and Gentlement, I give you the Noble Ode.
