Echo & Narcissus

Echo's voice
reverberates In vain -
Narcissus seldom hears
or feels another's pain.
For by Forever's Curse,
he shall never hear that sweet refrain.

His love can be garnered
by no other One.
His image reflects back
only his own orbital sun...

Gougeing out his clearer vision
oblivious to all by sheer omission
Echo's cries are no constriction
He is deafened by the gods' affliction.

            Echo pines, she weeps -
             her distorted visions she must keep...
             for - from the reified reflective water
              the dreams of "Imago"
             will forever haunt her sleep.

            He is etched upon her heart.
            Immortalized by inner needs
            whereof he shall fulfill no part.

His heartlessness is Legend
Notorious is he by name
the gods knew when they created him
Lovers would forever feel the pain...

A narrowing of nature,
a harbinger of harm
Fate's jot has finally written
"No one shall him resist!
nor any seize his deadly charm"

"Imago" idealized version of 'the perfect partner/ lover based on infantile connections with the primary care giver.   It is POWERFUL albeit subconscious.

— Bonitaj, Jun 19, 2009

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Tip of Southern Africa, ZAF

Favorite Poets: Too many to narrow down, but briefly :, AUDEN, T.S. ELIOT, DICKENSON, RILKE, THOREAU, RUMI ... the list is endless. Am inspired by many, especially those that live lives of "quiet desperation, and go to the grave with a song still in them" (THoreau)

Critiques

Seren

16 years 11 months ago

Oh My Boni ...

Well I dont normally leave very long comments on poems in the night , I get tired , but I will endeavor to give this poem its absolute due This is a masterpiece its like the first one was a introduction and this is the main course , and I am sated in your words , you write like a demon possessed and I love it , where do you go ? no dont tell me it would destroy the mystery ... Your first masterpiece Boni .. take a bow you have gouged out and cleared my vision and the echo pines in weeping to my soul .... Love Jayne x x

Bonitaj

16 years 11 months ago

echo & narcissus

My dear Seren (aka Jayne!) where would I be without your praise and support! thank you, thank you! sometimes I think I'm writing just for you! You GET IT! everytime! so glad you now understand the story of Echo & Narcissus. Based on Greek mythology but SO! prevalent in psychology today! She tries to reach him, he is cut off for life and she dies wasting away forever pinning.... Thank you for the "late night" edition - now go and get some sleep! (perchance to dream!) Boni x

doorman

16 years 9 months ago

Dear Boni

A great display of the myth, Boni. Thanks. Yours, Espen

Bonitaj

16 years 9 months ago

Thank you Espen!

It is very gratifying to get a good critique from a poet of your calibre! Cheers Boni

doorman

16 years 9 months ago

Bonita

I'm a great fan of the ancients. Your poem could as well be written on some unearthed tablet in Crete. If you have not done so before, check out Euripides 'Alcestis'. A lot of quality drama about death and love! Worship old legends and have a good night. Yours, Espen.

Kailashana

16 years 9 months ago

Echo and Narcissus of

Echo and Narcissus of course were meant for each other; one couldn't exist without the other... The imago of soul/beloved and dance/dancer. It is a race-thought, even extending beyond the confines of parent-child, unto God-son & daughter. I love the flower, very intoxicating scent... always remembered in early Spring. This whole tantalizing story is beautifully brought to *life* dear boni... ~A

bjp

16 years 9 months ago

Dear Bonita,

This poem is a garden of Wagnerian style myth. Olya says mythology is the most important stuff of life. She goes so far as to deny the existence of history. Then remembers such talk is a prelude to the defense of my fondness for the paradigms of history. She is provoking me even as I now type "I would say (says Olya) history is mythology, as I have done" (I do not respond except to report here upon the barbaric provocation). So it is an endless "great argument" subject we vascilate over. Here, the stitching of your poem is impressive. Brian

Bonitaj

16 years 9 months ago

NEIN WAGNER!

Sorry Brian! Couldn't resist that one! We have a friend who is learning German - and whenever he wishes to make some inane joke, he prefaces it with (you guessed it!)"Nein Wagner". It is such a relief to be light about this poem now in hindsight, for as I remember it - I felt every desperate whisper/cry that Echo made! I was living that very same experience - so mythology be damned! These are my experiences, given age old names! Great to have you stop by - I think in this case you can tell Olya "YOU WON"! this is pure history here! :) CHeers Boni