Laurel

The woods grow smaller every year. My leaves
Fall green and withered. Bitter water stings
My shrinking roots. Yet I am Laurel still.
I am the tree that one time was a maid,
But that was long ago. Poor Daphne! She
Wanes dimmer each time I recite her name.
But I remember running, how we nymphs
Out raced the wind. And when my branches feel
The sun's rays, I remember basking on
The banks to dry, each other's hair to braid.
And even though it's many years since he
Has touched my bark and wept, I can recall
My father when he'd look at me with pride
And beg for grandsons ...and I would have borne
Them too, and gladly, had I found a man
With half his sense. (Leucippus!
He thought he'd violate our hallowed grove
And woo me in a maiden's frock. And oh,
That stupid smile of his when from beneath
The dripping linen all of us could see
His penis swell. No hunter ever split
A hart as fast as we dismembered him.)

Apollo, Lord of Delphi, brat of Jove,
Great God of shepherds, music, archery!
Physician...you, who could not even cure yourself,
Do not blame Cupid for your wanton deeds.
By your own oracle you were deceived.
As stubble burns till mountains are consumed,
Your love-at-first-sight fancy swelled to lust.
Struck speechless I could not believe my fate
"Of all the women in the world, why me?"

But you persisted, forcing gifts on me.
And then I thought it must have been my fault,
"If only I were ugly, sickly, old."
I whined. I cried. I tried to hurt myself,
Until at last my anger came. I raged,
"Is there no justice?" Panting you pursued
Me, as a hound, who scents a hare, is mad
With craving. Even when at last transformed
You sought to win me, calling out my name.
When you could hear my heart no more, you left.
But just because you ceased, it does not mean
It's over now for me as well. I still
Feel fear. I can't, will not forget, excuse.
And I will see my story's told to all.
.
Vile brilliance, hated lover, witless God,
Now hear me! I renounce you, still and will.
I'm sure Olympus knows your sighs, your smirks.
You wear my leaves, a trophy for your crown.
You tell your pals that you're the victim of
My beauty. NO! You sought to take my flesh
With force against my will. You can't pretend
It didn't happen. You know what I know.
I didn't like it either and you can't
Pretend I did. I never led you on.
In words both firm and gentle, I said "No."
Avoidance, frowns and stares said so as well.
And then your tone began to change and like
The hare I started. You then played the hound
And off we raced through grove and brush and field,
Until I felt your breath upon my neck.
I stopped. I cried, "Oh father, rescue me!"
And then my aching legs grew heavy, bark
Encased my breasts, and from my temples leaves
Came trailing down my trunk, my toes took root,
I saw my arms branch out before my eyes.
No longer Daphne, Laurel I became
And I should not have had to, but I did.

I wince no more with every woodsman's stroke.
Now sap, not blood drips from each lover's knife
And many maidens fill this grove with tears.
This forest's more a home now than my home.
These years I've learned much I'd have never known.
I can't say I am happy for my fate
And yet I am resigned, excepting that
The last indignity imposed on me
Is this: it is in my best interest to
Forgive him. And I won't. This bark has kept
Me safe. These limbs, each twig has served me well.
But need I stay so? Dare I be a maid
Again? Were I a crone, would I be free
To run and swim and flourish as I please?
And could I ever learn to laugh again?
I do not know. And so I stay a tree.