Painting: Amore e Psiche (1707–09) by Giuseppe Crespi
Love and Soul, Soul and Death
©March 14th, 2016
By Vijaya Sundaram
Don’t look at me, he said to her.
And trust in me, he said.
Don’t seek to see my face, he said
And so she was content.
And unseen spirits came to her
And brought her food and drink
They fanned sweet breezes, spoke to her
While she awaited Love.
But jealousy can rear its head;
And always makes a strike
Where there is but the slightest doubt.
Her sisters sowed these seeds:
Perhaps he is a monster fierce
Perhaps, he’ll kill you soon!
So you must strike the blow quite quick,
Or he will get there first.
Her knife and lamp in hand, she gazed
Struck mute at his splendour.
Her heart and hand a-tremble,
She dropped some oil on him.
And he, awakening to Soul
In all her trembling fear
Spoke bitter words that fell like blows
For fly away he must.
She sought him love-struck day and night
And wept for what she’d lost
And Love had fled, for she had tried
Unveiling Mystery.
And painful were her trials dread,
She wandered long and far
And, serving Aphrodite,
At last she came to Death
For Psyche always comes to Death
With two coins in her mouth
And come back safely to her Love
Awaiting at the end.
And Love and Soul can always be
Together, but unseen
And if you do read Love’s true face,
Prepare to cross Death’s door.
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