Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, APOLLO AND DAPHNE, by PHILIP AYRES


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

APOLLO AND DAPHNE, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: Panting for breath, towards her parent brook
Last Line: So 'stead of fruit, he only gathers leaves.
Subject(s): Apollo; Daphne (mythology); Mythology - Classical


PANTING for breath, towards her parent brook,
Like the tir'd deer before an eager chase,
Fair Daphne ran, nor durst behind her look:
With winged feet, and with a blubb'red face.

The beardless God, who, taken with her charms,
Had long pursu'd, by his hot passion led,
Straight saw her stop, and upward stretch her arms
On Peneus' banks, where she for aid had fled.

He saw her nimble feet take root and grow,
And a rough bark her tender limbs enclose;
Her hair, which once like curls of gold did show,
Chang'd green, and in a shade of boughs arose.

To the resistless tree he courtship makes,
And with vain kisses his fond love deceives;
Then of her bays by force a chaplet takes:
So 'stead of fruit, he only gathers leaves.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net