The Story of Cypress: 2 Sonnets

The Ancient Greeks had an etiological myth explaining the origin of cypress trees, which are associated with mourning. The god Apollo had befriended a boy named Cyparissus, who used to go about with him hunting and duetting on the lyre; however there was one animal, a large and gentle stag, that Cyparissus had made his pet and therefore not only would he never harm the creature, but he swore to protect it all his life. He pampered and spoiled the stag, feeding it from his hand and decorating the beast with all kinds of precious jewels, necklaces and such, as well as fresh flowers in season. The youngster's divine friend would give him all kinds of votary offerings humans had strewn his altars with, so that he could adorn his pet so splendidly.

One afternoon during the heat of summer, the young adolescent was running courses with Apollo, practicing their javelin throw and in general being rowdy, while the bejeweled stag took some shade. Cyparissus unfortunately launched his javelin towards the shady spot where the stag was reclining, and pierced the poor beast's heart. It was dead in an instant, and Cyparissus was inconsolable, although Apollo attempted to mitigate his grief. At last he made one request to the god to be granted: that he be able to mourn his beloved pet for all eternity. So Apollo transformed him into a Cypress tree, face upturned to the stars, like a dark flame, in order to mourn forever.

Following are two sonnets on the theme of this myth, from a cycle I have been composing.

1)

High summer once more, in yoga lotus

meet to wilt lettuce/: who was once a boy,

now a Tree, or poem about a Tree

growing to half-grown, not grown youth:

trees festooned with curt EMO poetry

never out of season in high summer

we sing: Cypress sports with his famous pet

stag, when the Star was midwaying 'tween night

/

past and night to come--stagged antler hooving

all bedeckt with bling--exotic woodland pet

elkwood's staghorn jeweled-out ridiculously

primped and pampered precious by the kid Cypress

who "led the docile beast to food and drink

unafraid"/:

Tricked-out (tripped-out) in Stag Bling.

2)

Imprudent boyhood's acute javelin

was not a premature ejaculation

but a deathblow for the stag, despite the

bling and garlands and silvery mass of chain.

With gruesome wound the stag was draining fast

of all vitality; dying, the Star

was seen between the antlers of the beast:

IT'S JUST A PET festooned with fancy verse/

\He loved him too, the master of the lyre

and bow; because the boy begged this boon of

the god, and he granted it: that he MOURN FOREVER;

Nevermore hanging your cypress dark hair,

crybaby, to Earth--you shall mourn for Me,

you shall mourn for the Others/

you will be forever with the Mournful.