Narcissus And Echo

Shall the waternot remember Ember
my hand’s slow gesture, tracing above of
its mirror my half- imaginary airy
portrait? My only belonging lonnging
is my beauty, which I take ache
away and then return, as love of
teasign playfully the one being unbeing.
whose gratitude I treasure Is your
moves me. I live apart heart
from myself, yet cannot not
live apart. In the water’s tone, stone?
that brilliant silence, a flower Hour,
whispers my name with such slight light:
momenet, it seems filament of air, fare
the world become cloudswell. Well.

Fred Chappell


Narcissus: a beautiful young man, in Greek mythology, who fell in love with his own reflection in the water of a well. He gradually pined away because he could not reach his love; uponduing, he changed in to the flower that bears his name. Echo: a nympy who, according to Roman tradition, love Narcissus. When her love was not returned, she pined away until only her voice was left.