Okay, so I just got out of my Introduction to poetry class. So naturally I think I should share with you a poem we read in class today. It was really fun to read aloud in class, even if it wasn't me that read it (I have a bit of stage fright when it comes to speaking to small groups on the spot).
So for your reading pleasures here is;
Narcissus and Echo (Fred Chappell, 1985)
Shall the water not remember Ember
my hand’s slow gesture, tracing above of
its mirror my half-imaginary airy
portrait? My only belonging longing;
is my beauty, which I take ache
away and then return, as love of
teasing playfully the one being unbeing.
whose gratitude I treasure Is your
moves me. I live apart heart
from myself, yet cannot not
live apart. In the water’s tone, stone?
that brilliant silence, a flower Hour,
whispers my name with such slight light:
moment, it seems filament of air, fare
the world becomes cloudswell. well.
So if you are not aware of the story of Narcissus and Echo, this is a brief summary. Narcissus is really self centered and apparently also really handsome, and one day he comes across a lake (or river, or puddle, or pond, or whatever) and spots his reflection. He finds himself so attractive and just all around amazing that he spends days just sitting at the waters edge looking at himself, now this is where echo comes in, Echo sees him sitting there and because he is so handsome she falls in love with him, but because Narcissus is so narcissistic he doesn't even take note of her, and just goes on looking at himself. Echo tries to win his love by singing and doing all kinds of things, but Narcissus just sits there, until one day Narcissus tries to embrace himself (his reflection in the water), this is where the stories get muddled depending on who you talk to, so one version is that he drowns and echo is so in love that she remains with him until all thats left is her voice (or her echo...) the other is that Echo tries to save him, but he is already gone so she turns him into what we now know as a daffodil, and then she remains by his side for ever while the daffodil is turned away with its flower facing the water he can see his reflection.
Either way you know the story I find it kind of sad, I feel bad for Echo, but also kind of think that maybe she should have just moved on and found another guy. But maybe then we wouldn't have daffodils.
