Page:The earth turns south (IA earthturnssouth00wood).pdf/61

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

NARCISSI

One rather with the pool; the naiad fled,Fled to some dank bed he could not discover.He climbed without, pressing his dripping headWith hands that could not stifle vain love's sorrow,Bound he would track his tempter on the morrow.
IV."You fool!" companions jeered, "And is your faceSo strange to you, Narcissus, you can throwYourself into cach woodland watering place,Mad to embrace your shadow-self below?"He would not heed, he sought unceasinglyThe treacherous sprite, who answered smile with smile,Gesture with gesture, pain with misery,Yet would not yield its body any while.He sickened and died beside the pool, and notA seeker found his body; in its steadA sweet strange flower bloomed upon the spot,Drooping to its reflection its fair head,Whose purple heart and creamy petals' hemHold still his name and grief embroidering them.

47

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.