David Kavanagh Poet Ekphrasis

Notes About The Poem

Apollo and Daphne by Bernini A collaboration with Di11y Da11y

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

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Sam Scott November 29, 2025 at 1:04 AM Hi there David. I enjoyed this collaboration greatly.. you two certainly sparked off each other. Although I am late to the party, here is my endorsement, so nice to see this Blessing to you, Sx :) Sam Scott December 1, 2025 at 4:28 AM That is very said indeed they will be missed. I don't understand why we cannot just do poetry.. I thought that was why we were here? Glad there are still some good people remaining, yourself included. All the best, Sam David Kavanagh November 29, 2025 at 3:57 PM Thanks so much Sam, it was a very enjoyable one to collaborate on with Dilly, little did I know at the time she was being forced off the site by some troll, and would be gone soon after. Maybe there was a certain prescience in the poem of things to come, (so sad) cheers David

Suzette Richards June 28, 2025 at 9:57 AM Talking of which: Where is Di11y Da11y? Missing in action since Saturday... David Kavanagh July 3, 2025 at 3:23 PM Thank you Suzette! Dilly’s page is saying blank! Suzette Richards June 28, 2025 at 2:15 PM Faving this as DD's page appears to be blank. David Kavanagh June 28, 2025 at 10:22 AM Heya Suze, check out her latest post, she had some sad news, cheers David

Paul Willason June 9, 2025 at 6:42 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 June 10, 2025 at 1:22 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 June 9, 2025 at 5:01 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 June 10, 2025 at 12:59 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 June 9, 2025 at 5:06 PM I read the explanation on bottom ~ this is stunning- she is a dryad

Beryl Edmonds June 9, 2025 at 1:06 PM A marvellous Ekphrasis collaboration David and Dilly Dally. Well done… Beryl David Kavanagh June 9, 2025 at 1:13 PM Thank you Beryl, we are both equally delighted with the poem, so glad you enjoyed, cheers David

Chetta Achara June 9, 2025 at 12:30 PM That statue...WOW. Loved the poem as well. David Kavanagh June 9, 2025 at 12:57 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 June 9, 2025 at 11:29 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 June 9, 2025 at 1:15 PM :) Lin Lane June 9, 2025 at 12:19 PM I gotta say, "Cupid be damned." David Kavanagh June 9, 2025 at 11:47 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