Often, I go back to that little street
with its lime-washed high walls
and to the silence of its olive groves
and acacia trees.
The frail priest in his withered cassock
still whimpers through humble prayers
and painted rituals, hankering for the day
he called us to the garden.
Our faith was then a dawn that never was.
The sacred Book of Hymns and Canticles
is now torn and all the ancient deities
are back with an unholy vengeance.
Each day at four in the afternoon,
when tired swallows quenched their
thirst on the day's memories
and the teenage fancy of a spoilt only child
took comfort in thoughts of her scented lace,
her father brought her to the sea in a euphony
of thirteen sweetly singing violins.
I watch her – she is so beautiful.
In the solitude of a quiet cave,
the carefree child sits by the cliffs with seaweed and foam between
her summer-tinted thighs, murmuring
newborn tales to gulls and bashful seashells.
At the darkling of the day, she gathers
marigolds in her mother’s garden.
She has a sprig of rosemary in her hair
and on her breasts, she has the scent of lavender.
A shy night bird sings outside her bedroom
window and fifteen pampered mandolins in love,
softly lull the girl to sleep.
Part of the cycle of poems thirteen silk verses
A few words about the poem…
An Enchanting Coming-of-Age Tale | The Cyprus Poems Collection
In “Pampered Mandolins,” one of the works from the cycle “Thirteen Silk Verses,” the gentle stirrings of innocent young love emerge within a framework that subtly hints at a deeper, unspoken sorrow. This opening poem in the “Cyprus Poems” collection, capturing early feelings of attraction, envelops readers in an atmosphere steeped in the distinct sounds and landscapes of Cyprus Poetry. The narrative floats across familiar echoes of the past, painted with delicate descriptions of acacia trees, olive groves, and lime-washed walls. Here, the purity of youthful feelings finds shelter, undisturbed by the dark shadows that will later cloud these bright memories.
The poem’s introductory lines evoke a serene and timeless backdrop as the protagonist revisits a small street that holds the charm of childhood simplicity. This street, with its high, whitewashed walls and enduring silence, forms a refuge for the characters, especially for the girl—a “much loved child” who embodies innocence and beauty. Her sheltered, young presence evokes the sweetness of first love, and her femininity, encapsulated by scents of lavender, basil, and marigolds, adds an intoxicating sensory quality to the poem. Each detail aligns with the wistful nature of coming-of-age poems, where love is pure and unfettered, and where Cyprus’s ancient traditions and landscapes meld seamlessly with the narrative.
The symbolic imagery in this poem, especially the “pampered mandolins” that soothe the girl to sleep, hints at the delicate balance between fragility and hope. The mandolins, instruments with a melodic, tender sound, become a metaphor for the gentle, nurturing world surrounding her. These sounds suggest a world untouched by the realities of life and death, offering her a lullaby that reflects the gentleness of her current world. The “Cyprus Poetry” collection employs the soft allure of music as an emotional device, imparting both warmth and depth to this depiction of young love.
Yet, despite the gentle lull of mandolins and the soothing comfort of familiar landscapes, the is more than an idyllic memory; it also subtly layers in religious symbolism. The frail priest, garbed in a worn cassock, recites “humble prayers and painted rituals,” portraying the innocence and simplicity of faith in childhood. However, this faith is “a dawn that never was,” a phrase that evokes the idea of an unrealized hope or belief. It introduces a small, almost imperceptible shadow into the poem, mirroring the innocence of the protagonists who remain blissfully unaware of the tragedy that awaits them. As a result, the poem’s religious undertones provide a poignant contrast between the innocence of their love and the unyielding force of destiny.
The repetition of the phrase thirteen and fifteen also offers layers of meaning that connect the protagonists to the cyclical nature of life and death. For example, “the fifteen pampered mandolins in love” appear as metaphorical embellishments that intertwine the musical language of Cyprus Poems with the life stages of the young couple. The collection “Cyprus Poetry” frequently uses such devices to infuse narratives with depth, allowing the reader to sense, without explicit detail, the innocence of the protagonists and the unspoken tragedy on the horizon.
From a symbolic standpoint, nature in this poem acts as a mirror to the characters” emotions and experiences. The acacia and olive trees, often emblematic of endurance, envelop the young couple in a protective cocoon of tradition and rootedness. The swallows, quenching their “thirst on the day’s memories,” echo the fleeting quality of youth and innocence, both cherished yet vulnerable to time. In these “Cyprus Poems,” nature frequently echoes human emotions, drawing a line between the serene beauty of the landscape and the untouched innocence of the young girl and her admirer. Here, “Pampered Mandolins” reveals how both human lives and nature’s rhythm coalesce in an expression of pure, untainted affection, where time momentarily suspends the eventual tragedy.
The poet invokes the timeless essence of death poems as well. Yet, unlike traditional poems of death, where sorrow is at the forefront, here it lingers beneath the surface, enhancing the poignancy of the protagonists” love. This gentle presence of foreshadowing elevates the poem’s power, setting it apart within the collection of Cyprus Poems, where even the seemingly innocent beginnings of love cannot entirely evade the threads of fate.
Analysis of Themes
The poem deftly explores themes of innocence, nature, love, and destiny. The innocence of young love is presented in a way that resonates with the universal experience of first affection, a feeling pure and unsullied by life’s eventual hardships. Nature serves as a silent companion to this love, reflecting and sheltering it while underscoring its fragility. The theme of destiny is subtly woven throughout, hinting at the inevitability that lies beyond the poem’s gentle imagery.
Analysis of the Verse
The poem’s structure employs soft, flowing lines that echo the tenderness of the feelings depicted. Each verse acts as a subtle layer, with imagery that builds upon itself, evoking a soft but steady rhythm that reflects the sound of the mandolins and violins. This rhythm draws the reader into a state of quiet nostalgia, heightening the effect of each sensory detail.
Analysis of the Symbolism
"Pampered Mandolins” is rich in symbolic elements. The mandolins and violins, numbers thirteen and fifteen, and references to lavender, basil, and marigolds all contribute layers of meaning. They suggest a preserved innocence and purity, with nature and music acting as custodians of this fleeting state. The priest’s presence, along with the torn hymn book, signals a fragile faith that contrasts with the stability of young love, setting up an underlying tension between innocence and the foreshadowed loss.
Main Poetic Imagery
The main imagery draws on sensory descriptions that elevate the everyday into the poetic. Scenes of the girl by the sea, the aromatic herbs in her hair, and the marigolds she gathers resonate with traditional Cypriot life. The visual contrast between her colourful, carefree existence and the dim undercurrent of fate strengthens the poem’s depth, creating a vivid emotional landscape.
Religious Symbolism Impact
The frail priest and the references to ancient hymns subtly evoke the religious landscape of Cyprus. This symbolism contributes a sense of timelessness, suggesting that even in youth, life is intertwined with ritual, faith, and the inevitability of change. The priest’s prayers and torn hymn book foreshadow a sense of lost innocence, underscoring the inevitability that will later emerge as a dominant theme in the “Thirteen Silk Verses” cycle.
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