Vale of Tempe

“She urg’d by fear, her feet did swiftly move,

But he more swiftly, who was urg’d by love.” – Publius Ovidius Naso

The poet’s soul was akin to enamored Apollo,

His aspiration was the all-alluring Daphne.

Over great distances, his spirit would follow,

Pursuing perfection and absolute beauty;

Spiritually and physically, growing hollow,

Losing the evidence of prior personality.

For a moment, he lost sight of his precious prey,

The forest canopy, concealed the light of day;

Most painfully his heart began to wail and pray…

…To these pleas there was no audible reply.

In utter emptiness (the obscurity of solace)

He felt his naivety, and feeble emotions die

(Even the wonderment, now, felt aweless;

As if, instead of gold, Cupid now let lead fly).      

Disoriented, the pressure of gravity, began to heavily weigh;

When some serendipitous unknown force, suddenly did allay,

Mitigating all the uncertainty of the (previously) unknown way.

Instead of holding on to the past, he completely let go;

And proceeded forward by small degrees, soul now free.

Trusting in his ability, and that his goal would one day show;

All adversity, he faced with conviction, unwilling to flee.

Finally, his journey brought him to an azure, watery flow;

Overjoyed, his eyes were transfixed on a blooming laurel tree.

Composed By: A.D.