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Apollo and Daphne by Bernini A collaboration with Di11y Da11y

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We start at the end, with the warmth of his breath on her skin Baulked by proximity, he never knew how to begin A golden-tainted obsession, bitterly laced with lead Transformed rapture to quicksilver the instant Cupid fled A moment held, made static, tender touch met with distress For seeded in her veins, lies a stem of the wilderness Pursuit stalled just in time, yet time itself recalibrates Supplanted upon breaking, a laurel shoot germinates Oh, what should have been the faintest touch cannot be undone Rooted in the throes of escape, bound to bask in full sun Sinews harden to fibre, each pulse springs a bonsai tree Bark chokes her voice box; silent screams nest in the canopy Locked in abjection, as her praying hands first plead then splay As liberty, though not consciousness, is taken away Overruled in evergreen, contortion as regal crown Petrified white marble shall become her eternal gown In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the god Apollo mocks Cupid for wielding a bow, claiming it unworthy of a child. In retaliation, Cupid shoots Apollo with a golden arrow to ignite love, and Daphne a chaste nymph with a leaden one to incite revulsion. Though innocent, Daphne becomes the target of Apollo’s relentless pursuit. Just as he is about to seize her, she prays for escape, and her body is transformed into a laurel tree. Bernini’s stunning sculpture captures the precise moment of this metamorphosis

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Paul Willason

Date: 6/9/2025 6:42:00 PM

Spellbinding poetry...a delight to read and revist Greek myth....still alive and relevant in our so called modern age....the artwork focussing the journey into an exquisite image. They knew the human condition so well. A brilliant collaborative effort with Dilly, a meeting of minds to produce something quite special and unique.

David Kavanagh
Date: 6/10/2025 1:22:00 AM

Thank you Paul It really is alive and possibly more relevant today in a world that cannot be bargained with, Daphne knew this and took the unconscionable tragic decision to put a stop to the relentless pursuit, we both enjoyed getting inside the fabric of the sculpture, cheers David

I Am Anaya

Date: 6/9/2025 5:01:00 PM

There it is, the power poet couple seamlessly woven collab, once again. I love the statue and this funny line "Sinews harden to fibre, each pulse springs a bonsai tree" LOL. I'm just not familiar with it all or what it means, so like Beryl below it's a fabulous Ekphrasis! YAY--you both ~Anaya

David Kavanagh
Date: 6/10/2025 12:59:00 AM

Heya Anaya, thank goodness you read the footnote, makes this reply so much easier lol! We simply let the imagery speak for itself, one can only imagine the genius of Bernini, not one mistake has been found under intense scrutiny, over the last 4 centuries! Dilly is a fabulous poet to collaborate with, effortlessly meticulous, cheers David

I Am Anaya
Date: 6/9/2025 5:06:00 PM

I read the explanation on bottom ~ this is stunning- she is a dryad

Di11y Da11y

Date: 6/9/2025 3:04:00 PM

Hey Mr Popular - look at all the comments on your side of the street :D thank you for the opportunity to write with you on this stunning and thought provoking piece of art. Your visceral lines blew my mind and were incredibly inspiring. I appreciate all your time and patience with regard to editing too. You're a star :)

David Kavanagh
Date: 6/10/2025 12:41:00 AM

What a piece to collaborate on Dilly, perhaps too much for one mortal alone, two sets of eyes see so much more, gives a great 3d perspective on the sculpture and a unique merging of voices on the poem, A binary star symbiotic effort haha! You’re way too kind, cheers David

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 6/9/2025 1:06:00 PM

A marvellous Ekphrasis collaboration David and Dilly Dally. Well done… Beryl

Di11y Da11y
Date: 6/9/2025 3:07:00 PM

Thanks Beryl x

David Kavanagh
Date: 6/9/2025 1:13:00 PM

Thank you Beryl, we are both equally delighted with the poem, so glad you enjoyed, cheers David

Tom Woody

Date: 6/9/2025 12:41:00 PM

Fascinating. Hey did you know there's a school of thought that the Greek mythologies may have been loosely based on the exploits of the fallen angels and their Nephilim offspring? Whoa

David Kavanagh
Date: 6/9/2025 1:08:00 PM

Amazing how ancient Greek poetry, divine obsession, and demonic hybrids can all share a family tree Literally, but I suppose humanity’s offspring had to start somewhere, cheers David

Chetta Achara

Date: 6/9/2025 12:30:00 PM

That statue...WOW. Loved the poem as well.

David Kavanagh
Date: 6/9/2025 12:57:00 PM

It really is some sculpture Chetta, the more one studies the more impossible it appears, Bernini was only 24-25 when he created it, I’m delighted you enjoyed the poem too, cheers David

Lin Lane

Date: 6/9/2025 11:29:00 AM

For the love of a nymph, he had desire, but platonic, Daphne would never know such love. When read long ago, I wondered if she had the means as a tree, to regret her prayer. In the last verse, I'll consider that she could think... A metamorphosis that would never bring satisfaction to either of them. Which should I feel sorrier for? Finely meshed lines, Dilly and David.

David Kavanagh
Date: 6/9/2025 1:15:00 PM

Lin Lane
Date: 6/9/2025 12:19:00 PM

I gotta say, "Cupid be damned."

David Kavanagh
Date: 6/9/2025 11:47:00 AM

Thanks so much Lin, I tell you it’s a mind blowing sculpture, such delicate leaves and hair chiselled out of a block of marble, is impossible to comprehend, we had a much easier time putting our Ekphrasis together, Dilly is a fantastic poet to collaborate with, yeah the story behind this piece is also quite complex, Daphne was completely innocent, and chose this fate rather than let Apollo relentlessly pursue her, so much for Cupid lol! Cheers David