Wings And Arrows Poem by Daniel Brick
Wings And Arrows
Reading Love Poems
fills my time
during these days which
usher Summer across the
threshold of Spring.
THERE is the possibility
of a Love Match: SPRING
plus SUMMER.
Why not cast
for the last days of Spring
VENUS, mature, beautiful,
proud, impatient for
some greater purpose...
And for SUMMER that lithe,
callow lad, ADONIS, he of
the innocent allure, who
makes all the girls
melt with tenderness. But
he is ready only to kill
whatever runs or flies,
although not to face death,
not the slow dying of his
victims, from whom he averts
his eyes and ears, and waits,
without patience or impatience.
- Adonis of the empty head
and the untouched heart.
'Oh, when will Adonis
grow up, so we can have
some peace, ' cry the Wild Ones.
They look in vain for their
rescuer, Cupid of the Amorous Arrows.
'Is he so busy wreaking
havoc on humans and gods
that he ignores our plight? '
The Wild Ones are close
to despair. 'Oh, Cupid,
you dazzling child, come
to aid us... '
Cupid rests for a moment
on a ledge of rocks. He
lets himself slowly slip
over the edge, and thus
fall into flight, as
his wings immediately unfold.
Every day Cupid makes
gods and humans
fall in love as he falls
in flight. He strikes
each victim with a single
arrow, then pauses
to observe the passion
and the pleasure he has
released. He dearly loves
to witness that moment
when they lose control.
'I caused that! ' He
exclaims, delighted
by his mastery. 'I have
this power over them...
It's as if they
do not live, have not lived
until I make them
love. Then, only then
do they know the fullness
of being alive. Ah, this
is such an immense world,
still wet from birthing,
and I cast the spells
in which the gods and
humans grow up and embrace
this destiny - THEIR DESTINY! '
Cupid calls no building
home. But everywhere
he is an honored guest.
JOVE always welcomes
his visits to the GOLDEN
PALACE on Mount Olympus.
Jove smiles over Cupid,
and strokes his head,
and says for all to hear.
'I'm proud of you,
little god, you bring
joy to gods and humans
alike. Sensual bliss
stretches both of our
races to their full stature.
Long will you prosper!
Now, fulfill my latest
wish: Center your arrows
on Venus and the lad Adonis.
Go swiftly, little god.
and fulfill my wish.'
Cupid fulfilled Jove's
wish with astonishing
ease. Before vast Night
completed its task
of bringing to the world
darkness and rest,
Venus and Adonis,
our Spring and Summer,
were lovers, mingled
in the spell of Bliss.
Venus and Adonis
in sweet sweating embrace
hovered just above the ground
of her grotto in a quiet woods.
'Dear Adonis, ' she began,
paused, wondering in lingering
bliss. She smiled, there was
no need for words: their
cries of delight
had bonded them better
than words. She was folded
in a warmth that
resembled pure sleep
like the perfect content
of the Fixed Stars
of the Firmament.
'Dear Venus, ' he began,
paused, puzzled by
the bliss lingering in his limbs.
Never before had the scent
of flowers so stunned him
as they had this night
in Venus's bower.
As he
tightened his embrace,
she seemed to be the most
fragrant flower of all.
He felt an expanding tenderness
soften the rough edges
of his life and make him
think thoughts as high
above his former life
as the Fixed Stars
are above the pale moon.
So to celebrate both the first full month of Spring and Shakespeare's 450th birthday (and dear Maya who inspires us all) , I wrote my verse narrative. It took much longer than I thought it would, but it was a delight to write. Note I completely ignore the fact that Cupid is Venus's son - it simply did not belong in my narrative. Otherwise, I tried to be faithful to the pagan Renaissance spirit of Shakespeare's poem. 'My Shakespeare...Thou in our wonder and astonishment Hast
built thyself a live-long monument.' - John Milton
THERE is the possibility of a Love Match: SPRING plus SUMMER. wow!
I, too, am inspired by Maya Angelou and read her poetry regularly to appreciate the beautiful writing as well as the inspiration and wisdom. I was very excited to find your arrow poem...and you have two poems, posted within a day of each other that include arrows. This poem, however, has interesting layers to it. First, the writing itself, from the viewpoint of Cupid, written in a humanizing manner, as well as an omniscient narrator, and the introduction of Jove (Jupiter) who proclaims that sensual love unifies gods and humans. Then, there's the story of Cupid unifying Spring and Summer and then personifying these seasons through their representative characters (Venus and Adonis) ...and then the pulling in of Shakespeare and the concept and meaning of dying, and the idea of physical joining bonding characters in a spiritual yet pagan, secular way. Beautifully written. I think Maya Angelou would have enjoyed this poem and story.....Well crafted and imagined.
Reading your poem again, I now see that you didn't just describe Cupid and his perspective as I had said in my previous comment. You also described Venus as mature, beautiful, proud and impatient for some greater purpose. And Adonis as having an innocent allure, but always ready to kill. To me this like a sort of character set up in a novel rather then a poem, but that's what makes it so interesting and more understandable when you put them together in this love poem with the help of other gods and godesses. It is very intriguing and educational on Greek philosophy. Excellent job! -SOH
I thoght I shall start with a long poem. Got enamoured by this tale of love between Venus the Roman Goddess of love and Adonis the hunter boy, the all time archetype of beauty! Their love is given a new dimension here by comparing it to the love between Spring and Summer... the first and perhaps the best of the seasons. Venus struck by the arrows of Cupid falls for Adonis! Suddenly their lovescape becomes so colourful. They see the skies bluer, feel the fragrance of flowers sweeter, the melody of music more enchanting! What miracles Love's magic can work! Thoroughly enjoyed!
I fully enjoyed the poem upon first reading but when I read the notes about Maya, it gave an extra dimension to it and I read it again, this time still more enjoying it. Very well done, David. Excellent poetry
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/25/2024 10:40:09 PM # 1.0.0.1119
I love the story this tells with gods and goddesses, espicially from Cupid's point of view. I like how you made him think It is as though they did not live-could not live- until I made them fall in love. That was an excellent line to me. As well as your line, Venus and Adonis, our Spring and Summer. And with such great timing too! Had this been written in the Winter it would have lost a bit of its shine. One particular line stoid out to me, when Jove was praising Cupid I'm proud of you, little god, you bring joy to both god and human alike. I love your work! (Both your poetrys work and Cupid's work, to be specific.)