Best Daphne Poems
Listen, my dears, and I'll tell you a tale
Of a princess, a pirate, and glory.
There's a shipwreck, a rescue,
A romance, a ransom,
And a handicapped whale in the story.
There once was a princess, fairest of all,
But also quite vain and spoiled rotten.
She had a semi-private
Affair with a pirate
That would be but for me now forgotten.
The pirate, Mad Jack, was bloodthirsty and crude,
When upset, he'd explode, blow his top off.
Merchant vessels he sank,
Made their crews walk the plank,
Or, more rudely, their heads he would lop off.
One day Princess Daphne set out to sea
With her maid, they were bound for Majorca.
But the maid, in a gale,
Was swept over the rail
And inhaled by an asthmatic orca.
Lifeboats were lowered, the crew clambered in
And rowed quickly away, only thinking
Of saving their own necks,
Not the princess below decks
Left alone on a wreck that was sinking.
Then through the storm a ship hove into view,
At first Daphne thought it would dodge her.
But before she could hail her,
She felt courage fail her,
From its mast flew a vast Jolly Roger.
When Princess Daphne was brought before Jack,
She was haughty but thought he was handsome.
But to his greedy eyes
This fair royal prize
Represented a shipload of ransom.
But Jack was still human, Daphne was too,
And soon they were sharing their privates.
To his quarters she moved
And his crew all approved,
No one loves a love tale more than pirates.
But what of the ransom, yet to be paid?
Well, here the plot gets even deeper.
The stingy king said to Jack,
"No, I don't want her back.
It's cheaper for me if you keep her."
So Princess Daphne became Jack's sea wife,
And though common, but not mandatory,
When they became parents
They stopped being pirates
And passed peacefully out of the story.
For now then, my dears, that's the end of my tale,
An adventurous one hard to equal.
But, if I may be so bold,
And there's more to be told,
It may one day unfold in a sequel.
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
Gather 'round me, my dears,
I'll continue the tale
Of a princess and her pirate lover.
Of her crown unencumbered,
They pillaged and plundered
As they wandered the seven seas over.
Crimes maritime were elating
And invigorating
'til Jack noticed a bulge in her tummy.
The princess first was offended,
But then she comprehended
He would soon be a dad, she a mommy.
Two months later, one morn,
Daphne's baby was born,
She said, "Time to rethink our position.
If we stay here, our child
Will grow wicked and wild,
We must provide better, milder conditions."
Jack's crew were confused
When he told them the news,
All they knew how to do was be pirates.
None of them had a dime,
And all too far past their prime
To go home and move in with their parents.
Jack chuckled and chided,
Their fears he derided,
And then much to their mirth and enjoyment,
He said, "We'll start a new industry
That sells hospitality
And offers year-round and seasonal employment."
Do you remember the king?
That mean, stingy old thing
Died alone in his big empty palace.
But before his reign ended,
His will was amended,
And Princess Daphne inherited alles.
She thought the place would work well
As a swanky hotel
Or a posh B&B just for pirates.
But Mad Jack and his gang
Were arraigned and then hanged,
They should have kept their retirement more private.
And thus, dear ladies and dudes,
My narration concludes
About Daphne's and Jack's days of glory.
She turned her dad's mausoleum
Into a pirate museum
And made a killing, some say,
Conducting tours every day
For visitors who'd pay
To hear a pirating princess' story.
~Apollo And Daphne~
(Eight By Four)
Apollo's first love
a beautiful
maiden that when
Apollo saw her
in the woods fell
in love with-but
Daphne fled from
him just frightened
Apollo was in
such hot pursuit
that when she felt
his breath she screamed
at her father
the god Peneus
who just changed her
into a tree.
Dorian Petersen Potter
aka ladydp2000
copyright@2011
October.19.2016
~Author's Notes:
" The Eight by Eight" is a poetry
style created by Alvin Otto Stewart.
Silver floats the moon and boughs slender sway,
fleeing on her trembling breath
her light feet braves.
Rising of the lea in the dappled grey,
As she wore her verdant robes,
on her vestal form in surging waves.
He shielded her beauty in his embrace..
Her golden showers 'tween their stillness clasp,
as she lay glistening in his sighing grasp.
Stars shine in sheaves amid the elven shades,
that linger upon her fair brow,
hemmed with crystal strings and golden flakes.
His bride to be ne'er,
nymph of forest glades;
heard afar, beyond the hills,
her lone whisperings,
his yearning heart is left on her braided wings.
His love sweet fragrance with each breath endowed,
to wreathe the laurel with his words avowed.
Inside her heart she felt, his eyes' commands,
beneath the curling hair in misty wake,
that floated rough, untied about those lands,
his breezy handsomeness enhanced, and ache.
And she accepted him, at dawning break,
upon her nape then felt, the greening sea,
his vows proclaimed and triumphant heart's spree.
3rd Stanza in Rime Royal
©3/01/2014.Giorgio Veneto,Gautami Phookan.All rights reserved
~Apollo And Daphne~
(Eight By Four)
Apollo's first love
a beautiful
maiden that when
Apollo saw her
in the woods fell
in love with, but
Daphne fled from
him just frightened
Apollo was in
such hot pursuit
that when she felt
his breath she screamed
at her father
the god Peneus
who just changed her
into a tree.
Dorian Petersen Potter
aka ladydp2000
copyright@2011
October.03.2015
"Eight by Eight" is a poetry
style created by Alvin Otto Stewart.
In quiet anticipation, Daphne carefully sewed
tiny outfits of love for her soon to be child.
With her soft braided hair and loose, faded clothes
Daphne sung lullabies, then stared off for awhile.
When her due date came, we wished Daphne well
for our small sewing circle was caring and kind
Daphne looked embarrassed, but was happy to tell
that she'd show us her baby at just the right time.
About a month later, sweet Daphne appeared
gently cradling her sleeping, angelic little girl
With a hushed adoration, we all drew near her
and beheld the most beautiful baby in the world.
When the ladies dispersed, I asked Daphne if I
could hold her new baby, I'd hold her with care
with a brief hesitation, she said, "Just a short while"
her perfect, silicone baby was lighter than air.
Written on 5/26/2016
''come fluttering words,come drifting words to me...''
A Rambling Poet
Dripping in love, oh' such sweet scent.
Adoring nature-the essence of innocence.
Projected sight of this poised princess.
Hands of pearls,to feel her delicate touch.
Nestled in her presence,eyes linger from afar.
Edward watches his lady fair-silence-she sees him not.
written by...Kacey Greenlee
kaceymike29
for the..''What is she thinking poetry contest?''
7/16/11
sponsored by..Constance La France...A Rambling Poet.....
Daphne Odora
Dainty Daphne costumed in purest white
Through winter’s darkest days shares her blooms
Wears a satin gown to the ice moon’s delight
Small nosegay clusters share intoxicated perfume.
Daphne sings in winterfests of raucous snows
Evergreen, her smiles warm winterbound showers
January’s merry child surely knows
She lifts the heart through every frigid hour.
8-26-22
Contest: Eight Lines of Rhyme - Your Favorite Flower
Sponsor: Tania Kitchin
You’re a Flower in My Garden 3-5-24
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Daphne
Your winter child, with beguiling scent perfumes snow and rain,
I smile in January’s barrenness to herald crocus, wrens and snowdrops.
Sometimes a temperamental garden tot, don’t like wet feet,
Evergreen harbinger of bees and ladybugs and butterflies
Whispering of vernal winds in their hibernating renewal.
I watch the furry maniacs retrieve a cache of summer pine nuts
From beneath the cloak of my protection –
Spear leaves edged in yellow like wispy winter sunshine -–
Giving back a fountain of fragrance splashing from star shaped blooms.
Robed in purple royalty, decorating winter’s threadbare garden gown,
My blossoms glow through your garden’s gloom,
A jubilee of sweet incense, heaven’s winter grace, lovingly shared.
Sorrow be still within your heart;
Let not your grief devour.
I would not have you hurt at all
for a day or even an hour.
If I had a wish, but just one wish
I would think of you and say,
Remember me not in this darkest gloom,
but as I was yesterday.
Remember the journey that we shared
and all the good days that have passed.
Take all the smiles and the laughs and hugs,
Tuck them away and make them last.
Remember holidays and Sunday afternoons
and hamburgers on the grill;
dressing and cobblers and Christmas Eves,
remember that and I’ll be with you still.
Remember the times I complained or fussed,
but remember my heart is true.
Sometimes there was anger, pain and strife,
but remember I always loved you.
My children were my world, you see,
and then my grandchildren, too.
The legacy that I’m leaving behind
is evident in all of you.
Remember the stories I’ve told and retold;
Bring them up every now and then.
Share them with your kids and theirs
and let not my legacy end.
May sunshine light upon your face,
May your troubles be few and thin,
May laughter and smiles fill your every breath,
And remember I’ll see you again.
Sweet Daphne Odora
Beneath midwinter’s misty veils of rain and snow
Sweet Daphne Odora thrives
Evergreen when silver winds bid Orion return
Winter’s child blooms through short days and lingering nights –
Harbinger of crocus and of snowdrops –
Deep green spear shaped leaves edged in yellow -
Prophetic sign of spring sunshine –
Like a delicate bridal bouquet
Offers dainty nosegays in clusters
Of iridescent white satin or silky pink
Edged in royal purple robes,
A January Valentine
When icicles drip with midwinter tears,
Peeks through the icy breath of frozen air
Spreads a perfume intoxicating and unforgettable
Superstar of the barren season –
Finicky and feisty
Warrior of the bleak winter garden
Sweet Daphne Odora!
3/12/21
Contest: Flower or Flowers in Imagism
Sponsor: Constance La France
winter daphne
mauve daphne buds swell
when snow and frost prowl landscapes ~
winter perfume bursts
12-5-22
Contest: Winter Themed Haiku
Sponsor: Tania Kitchin
syllables checked with www.how,manysyllables
Daphne Odora is an evergreen shrub that blooms in the winter with an unforgettable fragrance.
Winter Daphne blooms
fragrant flowers awaken
October's chilled air
I am the sun which rises from the East each day for you
But the rays are too blinding so you love the shade.
I am the diadem which wants to crown you my queen
But you do not want to carry the crown.
I am the music that plays every step you take
But you block out your ears not to hear it.
I am the rose which grows in the garden to kiss your feet
But you step, tumble on the rose so it no longer stands.
I fear I may be too hard to love
But my love does not come with any kind of chain.
It is like the depths of time's unanswered end
But you treat it like the blackest curse.