Russel Tanner

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Echo And Narcissus

Zeus’ tendency from home to wander
Caused Hera, his wife, to start to wonder
If he could possibly be seeing another
No! He must have eyes for no other

One day, secretly she did follow him out
Into the woods; what a lout!
That cheating god had done it again
From the nymph’s friendships he stood to gain

In order to allow Zeus to escape
Echo to Hera a long untrue tale did relate
In the time Echo used to spin a yarn
Zeus ran off: darn!

When Hera finally caught on
She was so angry, so woebegone
She cursed Echo, so she could only repeat
The last words mentioned by others, no major feat

Echo wandered the land, traveled far and wide
Repeating the last words of others, well-said or snide
She saw no way out of her mess
You cannot expect favour from a furious goddess

Once, a handsome young man she did spy
Narcissus by name, wiry and spry
Wanting, but unable, to say how she loved him
She followed him everywhere; now that’s acting slightly dim!

As soon as he was thirsty, he looked for a pool
He found one quickly, to the brim it was full
To his own reflection he did lose his heart
From it he just simply would not part

Now Echo pines, then fades away
Narcissus never notices her as his mind will not stray
From the image in the water which he would not leave
When only the voice of Echo is left, he ceases to live

Into the Narcissus flower he did turn
Still his love for his reflection does burn
While Echo passes time repeating what others what others say
He stares at his reflection the whole day

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