Sunday, October 12, 2003
APOLLO, CUPID AND DAPHNE
Cupid, the son of Venus
Was a cheeky child,
Enjoyed mixing in
Were he had no business.
Apollo caught Cupid
Playing with Apollo’s stately bow and arrows.
“What need have you
With warlike weapons?
Leave them for worthy hands,
One’s that have vanquished monsters
Like the putrid Python.
Be off with you and your flickering torch
Enkindle others whom you would.”
Cupid’s brow arched
And his eyes shrank.
“Apollo, your arrows may seek their mark,
But my mark is upon you.”
Cupid had within his quiver
Two opposing arrows,
One that inflamed eternal love,
The other inciting eternal aversion.
From Mount Parnassus Cupid stood his vigil
Until he spotted Daphne,
Nymph daughter of the river god Peneus.
Cupid took perfect aim with his aversion arrow
Tipped with blunted lead,
Striking forever all want and need for lovers
From the limbs of Daphne.
The next arrow from Cupid’s quiver
Was the arrow that inflamed eternal love.
The gold tip struck Apollo at the instant
His eyes laid upon the river nymph.
Apollo was instantly seized by passionate desire,
Transfixed by every detail of Daphne’s attire,
Her hair, her hem, her eyes, her skin.
He was mad, mad, mad for Daphne.
Apollo’s attentions were politely spurned
But he persisted,
“Let me present my virtues,” Apollo said,
“I’m no fool, nor country rube,
My father is Jupiter and I am lord of Delphos and Tenedos,
I know all things past, present and future.
I am an expert archer,
I am god of medicine and music.”
But Daphne wouldn’t listen
And ran for sylvan cover.
Apollo pursued while imploring.
“Please, not so fast;
I fear you’ll be injured.”
Words were worthless,
Love advanced
Repulsing lust.
Nearing capture Daphne cried out,
“Father, Peneus, river god help me, be my savior,
Change my form by which I’m now endangered.”
Daphne’s wish was granted.
Before Apollo’s eyes,
Her limbs stiffened,
Daphne became a laurel tree.
Apollo’s tears rained up the plant,
Crying, “I will always love you.
If not my wife then I will wear you as an earthly emperor wears a crown.”
Apollo then crafted from the laurel tree a wreath,
And placed its simple majesty upon his pate.
Cupid, the son of Venus
Was a cheeky child,
Enjoyed mixing in
Were he had no business.
Apollo caught Cupid
Playing with Apollo’s stately bow and arrows.
“What need have you
With warlike weapons?
Leave them for worthy hands,
One’s that have vanquished monsters
Like the putrid Python.
Be off with you and your flickering torch
Enkindle others whom you would.”
Cupid’s brow arched
And his eyes shrank.
“Apollo, your arrows may seek their mark,
But my mark is upon you.”
Cupid had within his quiver
Two opposing arrows,
One that inflamed eternal love,
The other inciting eternal aversion.
From Mount Parnassus Cupid stood his vigil
Until he spotted Daphne,
Nymph daughter of the river god Peneus.
Cupid took perfect aim with his aversion arrow
Tipped with blunted lead,
Striking forever all want and need for lovers
From the limbs of Daphne.
The next arrow from Cupid’s quiver
Was the arrow that inflamed eternal love.
The gold tip struck Apollo at the instant
His eyes laid upon the river nymph.
Apollo was instantly seized by passionate desire,
Transfixed by every detail of Daphne’s attire,
Her hair, her hem, her eyes, her skin.
He was mad, mad, mad for Daphne.
Apollo’s attentions were politely spurned
But he persisted,
“Let me present my virtues,” Apollo said,
“I’m no fool, nor country rube,
My father is Jupiter and I am lord of Delphos and Tenedos,
I know all things past, present and future.
I am an expert archer,
I am god of medicine and music.”
But Daphne wouldn’t listen
And ran for sylvan cover.
Apollo pursued while imploring.
“Please, not so fast;
I fear you’ll be injured.”
Words were worthless,
Love advanced
Repulsing lust.
Nearing capture Daphne cried out,
“Father, Peneus, river god help me, be my savior,
Change my form by which I’m now endangered.”
Daphne’s wish was granted.
Before Apollo’s eyes,
Her limbs stiffened,
Daphne became a laurel tree.
Apollo’s tears rained up the plant,
Crying, “I will always love you.
If not my wife then I will wear you as an earthly emperor wears a crown.”
Apollo then crafted from the laurel tree a wreath,
And placed its simple majesty upon his pate.
