Classic and Contemporary Poetry
NARCISSUS: A POMPEIIAN BRONZE, by VYACHESLAV IVANOVICH IVANOV Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: Beautiful boy, like a faun here in loneliness roaming, who art thou? Last Line: Stranger, I tremble,anew, thou a narcissus shalt be. Subject(s): Goddesses & Gods; Mythology; Mythology - Classical; Narcissus (mythology); Pompeii, Italy; Statues | ||||||||
Beautiful boy, like a faun here in loneliness roaming, who art thou? Surely no child of the woods: thine is too prideful a face. Music that moves in thy gait, the wrought grace of thy sumptuous sandal Tell thou art son to the gods, or the high offspring of kings. Poised, with thy listening limbs, thou hast followed the lips of the forest, Harkening, bending thy head, fingering softly the sound. Was it the piping of Pan or the amorous sighing of Echo? Whisper of dryads, or words fluent-limbed naiads repeat? Pressing thy thigh with thy arm, now the light shoulder-fleece like a garland Thou hast entwined on thy wrist, thou, like Læus at rest. Wonderful, art thou in truth the gay Bacchus, Nysæan nymphs cherished, Hunter, whom goddesses loved, naked and idle and young? Or art thou haughty Narcissus, whom secret sweet harmonies guided, Wandering, languid with sleep, drunken, alone with his dream? Go, seek the summoning nymph, oh thou blind, not yet knowing thy image, Go thou, but dare not to bend over the slumbering wave. Oh, if thou art not Narcissus, yet seeing thy face in the waters, Stranger, I tremble,anew, thou a Narcissus shalt be. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BAMBERGER REITER by MARY KINZIE FRAGMENT OF THE HEAD OF A QUEEN by CATE MARVIN STATUE AND BIRDS by LOUISE BOGAN STATUES IN THE PARK by BILLY COLLINS STATUETTE: LATE MINOAN by CECIL DAY LEWIS THE STATUE OF A LIBERTINE by RON PADGETT AUTUMN by VYACHESLAV IVANOVICH IVANOV |
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