Island Goddess
Island Goddess
On a far-off isle close to paradise
Where each sunset and sunrise
Fills the soul with utmost delight
There dwells a lady of such beauty
Whose eyes reflect a divine light
That suffuses the soul so sweetly!
Under a sky as blue as the eyes
Of ancient goddesses that arise
From the ocean's soothing swell
You might if fate smiles upon you
Chance upon some secluded dell
Where on soft grass shines the dew!
There by a pond graced by palm-trees
Birds tease sun-dappled butterflies
Dancing among violets sweet-scented
With trills of mirth and amorous intent
Cascading into a symphony full-throated
Of melodious harmony divinely sent!
Oft as the day fades into golden twilight
The island goddess steps in ere the night
Dismisses the winged lyres into the dark.
She treads as lightly as the airiest elf
Resting her hand on a moss-laden bark
While goldfish glide forth on fins of stealth!
She stands tall and fair in the dying rays
Of a sinking sun that set her eyes ablaze.
With each other they vie in glorious beauty
Equal to none, standing aloof, a blazing orb
That rules o'er heaven and earth eternally
Daring one and all to gaze and be absorbed!
The gods that made her hail from Olympus
And though born on shell-horned Cyprus
Jupiter himself in his magnanimous heart
For such a rare and unearthly Beauty
Chose an island in this ocean's remote part
Where Venus herself came to roam happily!
There lion-shaped mountains stand guard
Forever basking in the sun's high regard
O'er the goddess' sacred and secret coves
For it is not given to ordinary mortals
To behold heavenly beauty in holy groves
And not be dazzled by the light of Immortals!
But once one has walked in the footsteps
Of the island goddess and caught a whiff
Of her sweet-nectared ambrosia and if
One be so lucky as to lead one's steps
To the trellised heights where she resides,
And death should strike with lightning speed
Then all our morrows may sink into the tides
For what further joys would one really need?
Claudio Wye
August 1, 1999
