Behind His Invisible Face

Behind His Invisible Face
© Surazeus
2025 06 19

Stopping in the woods one warm summer eve, 
Narcissus gazes in pool of his heart 
to understand weird secret of his soul, 
but all he sees are shadows of desire 
that flicker with beams of sunlight on water 
hidden behind his invisible face. 

Tiresias, that beautiful young man 
wearing long red robe that priestesses wear, 
told me with ominous voice of the sky, 
when my father brought me to his dream cave, 
that I would live well with wealth and success 
if I never get to know my true self. 

While gazing at his face in the clear pool, 
Narcissus hears sweet voice of a tree nymph 
echo among trees in the apple grove, 
so he hurries toward heart-enchanting song 
to find young woman in red priestess robe 
who sings as she weeps with tears of the sky. 

Your face reflects with beauty of sunlight 
ache of desire that motivates my heart 
to understand beast nature of my soul 
so I confirm my soul with self-control 
to treat you with selfless love of respect 
rather than attempt to control your body. 

Leaping from shadow of angry despair, 
Nemesis grabs young Echo in his arms 
and presses sharp knife blade against her throat 
as he demands that she accept his love, 
but she cries that she rejects him again, 
then asks Narcissus for help to escape. 

Notching arrow in yew bow of his heart, 
Narcissus aims past her beautiful face 
and shoots sharp point that kills the angry youth, 
then bears sweet Echo in comforting arms 
safe to the haven of his temple hall 
where he tends her wound and serves healthy food. 

Gazing at delicate shape of her face, 
eyes gleaming blue as water of the pool, 
Narcissus whispers as their soft lips touch, 
by looking outward at face of your soul 
I understand inner state of my soul, 
for I know real me in strangeness of you. 

Echo bears child from spirit of Narcissus 
who names the beautiful boy for his father, 
brave river god Cephissus with green eyes, 
so he takes growing son to apple grove 
to show him face in mirror of the pool 
and explain how to understand himself.