sonnet sequence: four linked hymns in praise of eros, boyish god of love

8/3/2019 Sonnet Sequence: Four Linked Hymns in Praise of Eros, Boyish God of Love

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Sonnet-Sequence:

FourLinkedHymnsinPraiseofEros,BoyishGod of Loveby T.J. White

(N.B.Though slightly edited within the last few years, these poems were in fact substantially written nearly

three decades ago, when the author was in his early twenties, and thus very young himself. At that time, the poet

in his wanton youth rashly intended not only to master, butif possibleto even transcend the genre of the

Sonnet. The reader will no doubt judge how successfully or how miserably the poet succeeded or failed in that

task.)

Out of that first blood Eros appeared, being androgynous. ...

He is very lovely in his beauty, having a charm beyond all

the creatures of chaos. Then all the gods and their angels,

when they beheld Eros, became enamored of him. Andappearing in all of them he set them afire. ...

--On the Origin of the World, a Gnostic tractate from

The Nag Hammadi Library in English, James M. Robinson,

general editor.


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Synopsis:

After a strenuous night of passionate and delicious love-making with his boyfriend, a

boyish-looking young man, and with the coming of dawn, the youthful poetstill soenraptured with and aroused by his young lover that he cannot sleep (thoughexhausted)musingly describes how the song-birds of morning, the rising sun, and even

the Heavenly Angels might react to seeing the rare and marvelous beauty on display

before his (and their) wondering eyes. The poet, however, closes with a cautionary

warning of self-advice not to become so entranced by his young lovers beauty that he

ends up allowing himself to be taken advantage of.


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I

hen nightly in Love's draughts

we steep our souls,

And taste of Joy, imbibing heady wine

(His passion hotter than the fiery

coals),

No pen nor tongue can tell the bliss that's mine!

With Phoebus' flaming orb the larks do rise,

And with the love-sick doves sing praise to Joy--

I gaze upon this Faun who sleeping lies

(So childlike, and yet much more than a boy)

And marvel at such richness, mine at last!

I know not if this love will triumph grief,

Or if, like former hopes, be overcast--I only know (such is my firm belief),

Thisboy's the Sacred Altar where I kneel

In humble adoration, praise, and zeal!

W


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II

he morning Lark's proud song doth so

inspire

A rapture in the souls of all who hear

His heav'nly strains, their hearts no more

require;

Yet could he sing but half so sweet, my dear,As thou appearest lovely to mine eye,

He'd far outsing the noblest heav'nly choirs,

And all the Seraph hosts above would vie

To learn the source of his amorous fires.

The only primal flame which they would find

Would be thy slim, angelic form, my love,For only thy great beauty could remind

Them of the song which they admir'd above:

Can even angels see a form like thine,

And eke with songs of longing not repine?

T


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III

hy radiant beauty seems so all-divineThat surely the Seraphic hosts above

Must long for thee, as longing I repine!

(Oh let me not disturb thy slumbers, love!)

The rising sun doth pause at morning's light,

To gently play his rays about thy face

With such a tender longing that he mightBe thought to even worship thy sweet grace.

Such Joy!--to gaze upon thy boyish shape--

The golden down upon thy parted lips,

Lithe limbs and silken hair (I fain would rape*),

Smooth, dusky skin, arousing, uncloth'd hips--

How can a stunning, god-like form as thineBe mortal-born, yet with such glory shine?

*In the harmless and non-criminal sense of ravish

T


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sonnet sequence: four linked hymns in praise of eros, boyish god of love

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