Echo and Narcissus Part 1
King Cephissus lured Liriope
. To bathe and frolic in his stream
Entrapping her she lost all hope
His favours now she must redeem
Her ardent struggles came to naught
He ravished her, lust was the thief.
Then left her weeping, so distraught.
Exhaustion overcame her grief.
Earth's circled fifteen times the sun,
Since Liriope had given birth.
Narcissus was her only son,
His beauty unsurpassed on earth.
Tiresias an ancient sage,
To Liriope did prophesy.
Would her son ever reach old age.
The old blind seer gave this reply.
"If he but fail to recognize
His perfect image in his mind
He may grow old and very wise"
This puzzle now, will be defined
Oh Echo why, did she beguile.
Queen Hera with loquacity.
Thou mountain nymph whose winsome smile
Did mask Zeus from complicity
With sylvan nymphs, his sole desire.
Those dalliances once revealed.
Set jealous Hera's heart on fire.
Echo was blamed, her fate now sealed
To never speak, till others spoke.
And only then, those last words said.
Then bite her tongue, or she would choke.
This punishment's inside her head.
A woodland hiding place she found
In solitude and loneliness.
One day she heard a youthful sound.
His voice her lips, it did caress.
Then "do not hide" Echo replied.
This paragon of many charms,
Bemused he said"please do not hide"
When Echo ran towards his arms,
Narcissus cast her to the ground,
Extolling death, to her embrace
As from her lips, his words resound
She disappeared without a trace.
To wander evermore alone
Those mountain caves were her domain.
Soon blessed death, turned bones to stone.
Her voice was all that did remain.
Narcissus so consumed with pride,
No other love, except his own.
His vanity, he cannot hide
For beauty must be his alone.
One love he spurned, chose suicide.
Avenger Nemesis fortold,
He would find love; then be denied
Of beauty he would never hold.
One fateful day beside a brook,
Its fountain's crystal waters cool.
An idyll scene, a shady nook.
Trees overhang a silver pool.
Narcissus stooped to quench his thirst.
Reflections of a young man's face
Below the surface was immersed.
An image he tried to embrace.
Those tranquil waters of the pool,
Now sullied by a zealous kiss.
Would not reveal to natures fool.
This perfect trap by Nemesis.
.
Copyright © George Seal | Year Posted 2015
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