I whispered:
'There are many kinds
of oceans between us
I know but come';
and you came to the forest
three sighs before sunrise.
In the shade of an acacia tree
with newborn blossom on your breasts
and blushing leaves weaving
I carved my name on your spine— red
the sun shimmered in a flask— dawn
and the tree began to bloom. My Morning Star,
the white flower in the meadow
the pristine cove and the fragile sand
the ease of dusk in summertime;
and I, the northern breeze at noon
the young sea exuberant and new
always rushing back to your timid shoreline. Lullaby of wounded dawn,
now a name on a marble tree
the scent of frankincense burning in the censer the yellow lantern lit at midnight; and I, alone in the acacia forest
mourning the day without a sunset.
Part of the cycle of poems thirteen silk verses
A few words about the poem…
A Tapestry of Love, Loss, Death, and Grief – from the Collection Cyprus Poems
In Three Sighs Before Sunrise, a piece within the Cyprus Poems collection and the cycle Thirteen Silk Verses, the themes of love, loss, and the profound impact of young romance unfold within the haunting landscape of an acacia forest. This acacia grove, symbolising a refuge for the young couple, emerges as a place where their short-lived happiness blossoms in defiance of social expectations and boundaries. The poem’s narrative moves fluidly from love's awakening to the desolate aftermath of loss, echoing a bittersweet journey that speaks to universal human emotions—hope, longing, and grief—captured within the delicate framework of a tragic young love.
The lovers’ first encounter is wrapped in an intimate exchange under the acacias, whose "newborn blossom" seems to mirror the tenderness and innocence of their affection. They meet "three sighs before sunrise," a phrase both evocative of an emotional prelude and suggestive of their connection before the awakening light. In this moment, the narrator’s carving of his name along her spine becomes a gesture of lasting affection, an act of permanence and possession, asserting their bond in defiance of a world they know cannot accept it. As the dawn light touches the forest, there is a sense of creation in their union, portrayed poetically as the acacia tree beginning to bloom, symbolising the fleeting vitality of their connection.
The girl is cast as a "Morning Star"—a light that guides, a beacon of hope and purity, intertwined with imagery such as the "white flower in the meadow" and "the pristine cove and fragile sand." These symbols evoke the transience of her beauty and the narrator’s adoration for her. He describes himself as "the northern breeze at noon," a force that, though powerful, can only touch her fleetingly. Their love, like the dawn, exists only in transient moments, leaving behind shadows and echoes in a timeless but frail sanctuary.
The narrative's arc reaches its solemn conclusion in the loss of the girl, marking a profound shift from innocence to sorrow, and love to grief. The acacia forest, once a place of shared love, now becomes a solitary realm for the narrator’s mourning. He returns to this forest of memories, now transformed into a place where he must face the absence that haunts him, and the stark reality of her passing. The description of her as “a name on a marble tree” symbolises her transition from living memory to a silent yet enduring presence in his life.
In the closing imagery, the censer’s frankincense and the yellow lantern burning at midnight evoke the sombre rituals of remembrance and mourning, elements that subtly suggest the impact of religious and cultural symbolism within the Cyprus Poetry tradition. The poem captures the essence of a "day without a sunset," symbolising a life caught in the eternal dusk between life and death, love and loss. It is a lyrical meditation on young love's fragility and the weight of memory, reflecting on how even the brightest bonds can be overwhelmed by fate.
Three Sighs Before Sunrise, like the other works in Cyprus Poems, invites readers into a layered and emotive journey, where love, loss, and remembrance interlace. Within this poem, an acacia forest becomes more than a setting; it transforms into a timeless place of refuge and memory, a space that resonates with themes that are simultaneously personal and universal.
Analysis of the themes in the poem
The poem explores love and loss within a youthful relationship, set against the conflict between personal emotions and social expectations. The lovers’ sanctuary in nature stands as a quiet defiance of the world beyond the forest, a space for authentic connection removed from societal judgement. The transition from love to loss highlights themes of impermanence, grief, and memory.
Analysis of the verse
The verse flows with delicate, almost dreamlike phrasing, echoing the tenderness of the couple’s experience. The poem’s early lines feature soft, rhythmic cadences, capturing the gentle intimacy of the lovers’ encounters. As the narrative moves toward grief, the language becomes more solemn, mirroring the narrator’s sorrow.
Analysis of the symbolism
Nature plays a vital role in the poem’s symbolism, particularly the acacia forest and dawn light, both of which represent the innocence and beauty of young love. The carving of a name upon her spine signifies an attempt to etch permanence into a transient bond, while her transformation into "a name on a marble tree" signifies her untimely passing.
Main poetic imagery
Key images include the "newborn blossom," the "Morning Star," and the "white flower in the meadow," all of which portray the girl as a radiant but fragile presence. The final images of the censer and midnight lantern emphasise the sorrow and solemnity surrounding her memory, contrasting the bright beginning of their love.
Religious symbolism impact
Religious elements subtly underscore the poem’s reflection on mortality and remembrance, as the censer's incense and the midnight lantern evoke rituals of mourning. These symbols of reverence reinforce the emotional gravity of the narrator’s loss, suggesting the impact of religious morality within the framework of Cyprus poetry.
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