Wings And Arrows

Reading Love Poems fills my time during these days which usher Summer across the threshold of Spring. THERE is the possibility of a Love Match: SPRING plus SUMMER. Why not cast for the last days of Spring VENUS, mature, beautiful, proud, impatient for some greater purpose... And for SUMMER that lithe, callow lad, ADONIS, he of the innocent allure, who makes all the girls melt with tenderness. But he is ready only to kill whatever runs or flies, although not to face death, not the slow dying of his victims, from whom he averts his eyes and ears, and waits, without patience or impatience. - Adonis of the empty head and the untouched heart. 'Oh, when will Adonis grow up, so we can have some peace, ' cry the Wild Ones. They look in vain for their rescuer, Cupid of the Amorous Arrows. 'Is he so busy wreaking havoc on humans and gods that he ignores our plight? ' The Wild Ones are close to despair. 'Oh, Cupid, you dazzling child, come to aid us... ' Cupid rests for a moment on a ledge of rocks. He lets himself slowly slip over the edge, and thus fall into flight, as his wings immediately unfold. Every day Cupid makes gods and humans fall in love as he falls in flight. He strikes each victim with a single arrow, then pauses to observe the passion and the pleasure he has released. He dearly loves to witness that moment when they lose control. 'I caused that! ' He exclaims, delighted by his mastery. 'I have this power over them... It's as if they do not live, have not lived until I make them love. Then, only then do they know the fullness of being alive. Ah, this is such an immense world, still wet from birthing, and I cast the spells in which the gods and humans grow up and embrace this destiny - THEIR DESTINY! ' Cupid calls no building home. But everywhere he is an honored guest. JOVE always welcomes his visits to the GOLDEN PALACE on Mount Olympus. Jove smiles over Cupid, and strokes his head, and says for all to hear. 'I'm proud of you, little god, you bring joy to gods and humans alike. Sensual bliss stretches both of our races to their full stature. Long will you prosper! Now, fulfill my latest wish: Center your arrows on Venus and the lad Adonis. Go swiftly, little god. and fulfill my wish.' Cupid fulfilled Jove's wish with astonishing ease. Before vast Night completed its task of bringing to the world darkness and rest, Venus and Adonis, our Spring and Summer, were lovers, mingled in the spell of Bliss. Venus and Adonis in sweet sweating embrace hovered just above the ground of her grotto in a quiet woods. 'Dear Adonis, ' she began, paused, wondering in lingering bliss. She smiled, there was no need for words: their cries of delight had bonded them better than words. She was folded in a warmth that resembled pure sleep like the perfect content of the Fixed Stars of the Firmament. 'Dear Venus, ' he began, paused, puzzled by the bliss lingering in his limbs. Never before had the scent of flowers so stunned him as they had this night in Venus's bower. As he tightened his embrace, she seemed to be the most fragrant flower of all. He felt an expanding tenderness soften the rough edges of his life and make him think thoughts as high above his former life as the Fixed Stars are above the pale moon.