Luis Miguel (@LuisMiguelUCN)

Echo and Narcissus 2/2 Her smile was the moon by which the ocean rages, Her eyes burned with the wisdom of a thousand ages, She was innocent and free as the larks that rove, She was the only girl I could ever truly love. As I cherished the lady in the rippling glass, A soft whisper from her lips ventured ask: “Will the bridegroom leave me in nought but these fig leaves? Weave me a starlight gown and clothe me with thy dreams.” So I wrapped my fondest dreams around her breast (Solar cloths worthy of a princess of the West), Garnished her gold tresses with gemstones from the rill, Garbed her in fire, then crowned her head with daffodil. And so she was mine and I hers, An ardent reunion, with words Untellable, glances more so, Undisturbed in the quiet snow. And I was happy — truly happy, As I ne’er thought I could be — As she sang her songs to me, As she spoke her poetry. But Earth and Hell conspired against us; Burgeoning with malice, envious, They hurled a somber, demon cloud That sealed their work as it eldritch growled, Mercilessly blowing away The glass on which my lady lay. Because the vile wind had come Before her time to grow was done, My radiant bride was swept where I Might never reach her, lest I die Along with the dove-crested girl Who alone had colored my world. “Promise me,” she wept and faded, “Protect this union, we’ve created, Within the garden of your dreams, Where all Creation’s magic teems: There I shall sleep and wait for thee, There search and thou shalt surely find me. If my wraith thou shouldst discover In the arms of another, Let not thy spirit fail us, Leave the shadows! Only trust In the love thou knowest is true, In thy world of undying blue. Believe in me with all thy being, Beloved, and thou shalt bring My heart to the remembrance Of my onyx-manéd prince.” Before she slipped away from me, Between her hands I placed a key — The sword of romance, old as time, The source of my impassioned rhyme, By which I claim my rightful throne, Bestowed once from the jealous stone. She took the sword and then she vowed She’d hand it back when she is found. When she was gone, I knew not why, When I had given all the love my Boundless heart knew how to give. But I could never really live Apart from my flaxen-haired girl, Who asked for nought, yet gave me pearls Through her poetry and through her song. And I long to go where she has gone! So I cast myself into the lake, Certain, in the end, to wake To the moonbeam smile I painted — Today, tomorrow and forever untainted. … On the shore, nothing remained Of the lovers whom the storm had claimed, Save a single yellow daffodil Safely nestled by the rill.