Daphne Transformed

As if in a transcendental state,
I proudly call for swift justice
from my relentless pursuer,
a way to escape this infernal chase
whose outcome desire or até
for Eros’ revenge wins!

An answer draws me inward
as outward closes in—
all of life stands still,
and moments mimic infinity…

Flushed blood thickens and crawls
altering from Ba-bump-Ba-bump-Ba-bumping
of sweet flesh memories
to a constant and slowly creeping seeping;
a quaternity surrounds,
quieting…

Concurrently, a tingling sensation envelops
as I float while sinking
like an anchor,
returning to the gently tossing waves
of the womb of Earth….

Vision clouds as brightness nears,
hearing transports from waves processed
to waves felt and known
reverberating through my hardening essence;
everywhere joins within,
dancing ceaselessly….

The zeal for hunting
turns to an appeal for communing
as I drink fully of the Earth
from straws in my toes
and suck the soaking sun—
not vaingloriously—
through waving veins
of waxy jade capillaries.
I sigh; my bows to the souls
of those once captured
now songs of tribute
‘tween wind and luxurious boughs.

Whence the culprit,
who unconsciously fashioned
my sudden transformation,
approaches in stupefaction,
in amazement,
still drooling over my beauty,
yet passionate and pushing hard
for my woody new self,
he, I frantically try squishing,
thrashing him
with my branches,
whipping him
with my twigs.

However, all of this commotion
he sees as divine rapture
for his touch and embrace
of my barked skin.
He misperceives me
bowing to him
and pledges eternal vigilance and honor
by wearing pieces of me
about his abhorrent brow,
which purpose gives instead
an elemental dishonor
unforeseeable
by blind passion.

How could one be so blind—
especially one who hounds awareness?
Who desires their hair ripped
from their head
or from their body
in plentiful handfuls?

What ignominious ignorance
is this
for one to think
tearing me asunder
would confer bliss!

Confess to Earth
your transgressions
against her daughter,
her sister,
your wrongs;
nay do not stoop
to snipping or ripping
off my branches, twigs and leaves
to further dignify
reproachable heroes
of violence!

Instead, revere me
from afar
as memories
of youthful vigor
keep in mental recesses.
For, I would rather,
like Persephone,
fall into Earthly crevices
than to have my name sullied
by the sport
of clashing egos!