On the first day of June she crossed the lines of innocence and was budding to the world.
She walked into the forest with timid steps and a smile of sin dancing on her newborn breasts.
Together we sang lullabies, and played love songs on my guitar once taught me by the master.
Aroused by our sinless flesh under a star-strewn sky, we shed our seven veils of modesty
innocence was lost in innocence and in the shade of the acacia tree we loved openly and without guilt.
I thought God was good I thought God was kind and I thanked him for his gift.
But my god was a jealous god and he killed her in the morning.
Now she is calling me to go and I, with an unfinished song and my broken guitar across my back I must sail the river Acheron.
Part of the cycle of poems thirteen silk verses
A few words about the poem…
The River Acheron: A Journey Through the Underworld | Cyprus Poems
Within the tapestry of “The River Acheron" poem, the veil between the mortal realm and the underworld is delicately explored. This death and grief poem, nestled within the series "Thirteen Silk Verses" of the Cyprus Poems collection, beckons the reader to traverse the realms of Greek mythology and timeless human emotions.
The poem commences on the cusp of June, a juncture that symbolizes transition and metamorphosis. The speaker reminisces about a maiden, a figure of innocence, who embarks on a path beyond the boundaries of the accepted societal norms. As she steps into the forest, her journey is marked by a juxtaposition of timidity and the allure of newfound knowledge.
Echoes of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice resonate as the speaker and the maiden harmonize in melody, creating a momentary sanctuary of musical enchantment. Here, the guitar serves as a conduit of expression, reminiscent of Orpheus' legendary lyre that tamed the very heart of Hades. The veils of modesty cascade in a dance of symbolism, their descent akin to Eurydice's fading presence in the underworld's shadow.
Yet, the moment of unity is marred by the jealousy of a divine figure, mirroring the forces that thwarted Orpheus' attempt to rescue his beloved Eurydice. This divine intervention brings a tragic end to the maiden's life, illuminating the inexorable nature of fate and the fragility of mortal existence.
The river Acheron emerges as a potent motif, signifying the passage between life and death, with the journey across its waters evoking the mythological trope of crossing the Styx to the realm of the dead. The speaker's call to embark on this journey, bearing a broken guitar and an unfinished song, mirrors Orpheus' descent to the underworld in search of Eurydice.
The poem delves into the intricate fabric of human experience, juxtaposing innocence and transgression, melody and silence, life and death. The exploration of Greek mythology and its interplay with the human narrative adds layers of depth and universality to the theme of loss.
In the poem's contemplative tone and mythical allusions, readers are invited to introspect upon the profound aspects of existence that bridge the human and the divine. The "River Acheron" resonates as a meditation on mortality, echoing the echoes of ancient myths while weaving a timeless narrative of the human journey into the unknown.
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