Aphrodite

By Madison Julius Cawein

    Apollo never smote a lovelier strain,     When swan-necked Hebe paused her thirsty bowl     A-sparkle with its wealth of nectar-draughts     To lend a list'ners ear and smile on him,     As that the Tritons blew on wreathed horns     When Aphrodite, the cold ocean-foam     Bursting its bubbles, from the hissing snow     Whirled her nude form on Hyperion's gaze,     Naked and fresh as Indian Ocean shell     Dashed landward from its bed of sucking sponge     And branching corals by the changed monsoon.      Wind-rocked she swung her white feet on the sea,     And music raved down the slant western winds;     With swollen jowls the Tritons puffed the conch,     Where, breasting with cold bosoms the green waves,     That laughed in ripples at Love's misty feet,     Oceanids with dimple-dented palms     Smote sidewise the pale bubbles of the foam,     Which wove a silver iris 'round her form.     Where dolphins tumbling stained the garish arch     Nerides sang, braiding their wet locks,     Or flung them streaming on the broken foam,     Till evetide showed her loveliest of stars -     Lost passion-flower of the sinking sun -     In the cool sheen of shadowy waters deep,     That moaned wild sea-songs at the Sirens' caves;     Then in a hollow pearl, o'er moon-white waves,     The creatures of the ocean danced their queen,     Till Cytherea like a rosy mist     Beneath the star rose blushing from the deep.     On the pearled sands of a moon-glassing sea     Beneath the moon, narcissus-like, they met,     She naked as a star and crowned with stars,     Child of the airy foam and queen of love.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a vividly painted mythological tableau that explores themes of beauty, nature, and divine love. The rich imagery and allusion to Greek mythological figures such as Apollo, Hebe, Tritons, Aphrodite, and Hyperion, suggest an admiration for classical literature and culture. The poem's tone is reverential and awe-struck, capturing the sublime beauty of the scene and its divine protagonist.

The structure of the poem is freeform, allowing the poet to explore a variety of images and ideas without being confined by traditional rhyme or meter. This choice gives the poem a sprawling, epic feel, appropriate to its mythological subject matter. The use of enjambment, where sentences and phrases run over the end of one line and into the next, adds to the poem's fluidity, mirroring the undulating movement of the sea and the dance of the sea creatures.

In terms of standout literary devices, the poet's use of metaphor and simile is particularly striking. Aphrodite is described as being "naked and fresh as Indian Ocean shell", and later as "a rosy mist". These comparisons serve to highlight her natural beauty and otherworldly allure. Meanwhile, the sea is described as "moaning wild sea-songs at the Sirens' caves", personifying it and adding to the sense of a world alive with myth and magic.

Overall, this poem is a lush and evocative exploration of the divine in nature, and a testament to the enduring power and allure of classical mythology. Its rich imagery, freeform structure, and skillful use of literary devices make it a captivating read.

Exploring Narrative Poetry

Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well. Unlike lyric poetry, which focuses on emotions and thoughts, narrative poetry is dedicated to storytelling, weaving tales that captivate readers through plot and character development.


Narrative poems are unique in their ability to combine the depth of storytelling with the expressive qualities of poetry. Here are some defining characteristics:

  • Structured Plot: Narrative poems typically have a clear beginning, middle, and end, following a plot that might involve conflict, climax, and resolution, much like a short story or novel.
  • Character Development: Characters in narrative poems are often well-developed, with distinct voices and personalities that drive the story forward.
  • Descriptive Language: The language used in narrative poetry is vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture of the scenes and events, while also conveying the emotions and atmosphere of the story.

From ancient epics like "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to more modern narrative poems, this form continues to engage readers by blending the art of storytelling with the beauty and rhythm of poetry.