CROCUS

Thou winsome youth, ill-fated mortal,
beloved of Smilax,
dearest companion of the gods'
winged Messenger,
didst thou yearn to soar
thro' Elysian fields as he?

Did thy blighted spirit glide 'pon great
Hermes' discus,
ere it struck thy brow,
spilled thy life blood,
robbed thee of breath, of life's bloom?

By grief undone, he, divine bearer of
the herald's staff,
ordained thee the harbinger of rebirth,
of hope renewed,
that thou wouldst foretoken
Persephone's advent.

In eternal life art thou earthbound still.
Yet, thou wearest Elysium's
dearest hues, for thy chalice Maia's
child laved in celestial oceans.
Thy earthly essence, vermilion of his
deep dolour, dwelleth in thy heart.

Thou first note of Spring's sparkling
verset deep in Earth's womb,
surge thro' Winter's waning cadences, 
thro' her argent spread,
for to drink deep of crystal skies!

© 2015 Lily's Verse

Lilium Candidum

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