Each day at noon, I cycled
in the pungent fumes of melting tar
to a pubescent mirage on the water.
We were bound to each other
by ancient folklore of the land;
I, the young protégée of the sea,
seething, always unsated, and she
the precious daughter of the master.
Dressed in homespun blue
she glided to the beach at 2 pm
guarded by her father’s scathing
psalms and holy hymn books.
For many hours, I watched her lay
on the rocks in an other-worldly reverie
until I could almost taste the salt
and seaweed on her sunburnt thighs.
Whims of tortured youth—
We gorged on sweet apricots and figs
drifting on a raft we borrowed from
a sightless minstrel.
Vengeful monks nailed us on a cross
without mercy for the sin of youth.
We prayed for us, we prayed for Jesus
and together sought refuge from the elders
in the vastness of the cerulean sea.
A few Words about the poem…
A Mirage on the Water – A Cyprus Coming-of-Age Poem
In the "Coming-of-Age" collection, the poem "A Mirage on the Water" is as a vivid exploration of youthful yearning, set against the timeless allure of the Mediterranean coast of Cyprus. Within its verses, it weaves a tapestry of desire, discovery, and the bittersweet interplay between freedom and societal constraint. Through its narrative of an adolescent’s infatuation with a girl cloistered by religious orthodoxy, the poem unfolds as a lyrical journey through the trials of adolescence and the magnetism of forbidden love. The imagery of the sea—both liberating and confining—serves as an evocative stage where the characters grapple with their burgeoning emotions, each line enriched by the nuanced interplay of nature and culture.
The poem, a significant contribution to the rich tradition of Cyprus poetry, opens with the speaker’s daily pilgrimage, cycling through the oppressive summer heat to encounter a “pubescent mirage on the water.” This phrase encapsulates both the tangible and ephemeral aspects of the encounter. The mirage becomes a metaphor for adolescent longing, ever-present yet unattainable. The interplay between reality and illusion is accentuated by the "pungent fumes of melting tar," grounding the narrative in the physicality of summer while foreshadowing the discomfort and intensity of youthful desire.
The central figures of the poem are united by an ancient folklore that binds them to their environment and to each other. The speaker, depicted as a "protégé of the sea," embodies restlessness and insatiable curiosity, while the girl—"the precious daughter of the master"—is guarded by the weight of her father’s religious expectations. The poem juxtaposes the speaker’s untamed vitality with the girl’s prescribed sanctity, creating a poignant tension that underscores the universal theme of forbidden love. Her "homespun blue" attire evokes both simplicity and modesty, yet her presence on the beach transforms her into an otherworldly figure, suspended between duty and desire.
As the narrative unfolds, the setting becomes an active participant in the lovers’ story. The poetic images of the sea of Cyprus, described as "cerulean" and vast, mirrors their longing for escape and the boundless potential of their connection. Their shared moments—gorging on figs and apricots, drifting on a borrowed raft—are imbued with the innocence and intensity of first love. Yet these idyllic interludes are shadowed by the looming presence of societal judgement, embodied by "vengeful monks” who mete out punishment for their “sin of youth.” The imagery of crucifixion introduces an allegorical dimension, aligning their suffering with a universal narrative of sacrifice and redemption.
The final stanza evokes both despair and defiance. The lovers seek refuge “in the vastness of the cerulean sea,” a domain beyond the reach of their oppressors. The sea, with its dual nature as both sanctuary and abyss, becomes a metaphor for their emotional and spiritual odyssey. Their prayers—for themselves and for Jesus—reflect a poignant merging of personal and divine struggles, inviting the reader to contemplate the intersections of love, faith, and rebellion.
This coming-of-age poem navigates the complexities of youthful passion within the broader framework of cultural and religious constraints. By intertwining personal narrative with universal themes, the poem, an example of modern Cyprus poetry, offers a resonant exploration of the human condition, illuminating the enduring tensions between desire and duty, freedom and tradition.
Analysis of the Themes in the Poem
The central themes of "A Mirage on the Water" revolve around love, rebellion, and self-discovery. At its core, the poem examines the transformative power of youthful passion, capturing the intensity and recklessness that accompany first love. The relationship between the speaker and the girl is framed by the constraints of their cultural and religious milieu, highlighting the tension between individual desire and collective expectation.
The theme of forbidden love is intricately tied to the girl’s status as "the precious daughter of the master," whose father’s hymns and psalms act as barriers to her autonomy. This dynamic reflects broader societal structures within Cyprus that seek to regulate relationships and impose moral codes. The lovers’ rebellion against these constraints is both a personal act of defiance and a universal exploration of the human longing for freedom.
Another significant theme is the interplay between nature and human emotion. The sea serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing both liberation and the vast, uncharted territories of the self. The natural imagery of apricots, figs, and the cerulean sea creates a sensory-rich backdrop that underscores the vitality and impermanence of their connection.
Analysis of the Verse
The coming-of-age poem about forbidden love in Cyprus is composed in free verse, allowing the language to flow organically and mirror the spontaneity of youthful emotion. The lack of a rigid rhyme scheme or metre reflects the unstructured and tumultuous nature of the characters’ experiences. Enjambment is used effectively to sustain the momentum of the narrative, creating a sense of urgency and fluidity that echoes the relentless motion of the sea.
The language is precise yet layered with meaning, balancing tangible details—such as "pungent fumes of melting tar"—with abstract imagery that invites introspection. The shifts in tone, from idyllic reverie to sombre reflection, mirror the emotional highs and lows of the coming-of-age journey, imbuing this Cyprus poem with a dynamic and immersive quality.
Analysis of the Symbolism
Symbolism is a defining feature of "A Mirage on the Water." The sea functions as the central symbol, embodying the dualities of freedom and confinement, life and death, hope and despair. Its vastness offers a sanctuary for the lovers, yet its boundless nature also hints at the risks and uncertainties that accompany their defiance.
The raft, borrowed from "a sightless minstrel," symbolizes the fragility of their escape. It suggests both the precariousness of their love and the guidance of unseen forces—perhaps fate or destiny—that propel them forward. The monks’ crucifixion of the lovers evokes themes of sacrifice and redemption, casting their rebellion as both a personal and universal act of resistance.
Main Poetic Imagery
The Cyprus imagery in the poem is vivid and evocative, painting a sensory-rich portrait of the lovers’ world. The "pungent fumes of melting tar" ground the narrative in the physicality of a Cyprus summer, while the "cerulean sea" and "sunburnt thighs" evoke the allure and intensity of their connection. The imagery of crucifixion and prayer introduces a spiritual dimension, deepening the emotional resonance of their plight.
Food imagery—apricots and figs—serves as a metaphor for the sweetness and transience of their love, while the raft signifies their fragile attempts to navigate the turbulent waters of adolescence and societal constraint. These images, both concrete and symbolic, create a layered and immersive reading experience.
Religious Symbolism
Religious symbolism permeates the poem, shaping its emotional and thematic landscape. The girl’s father, armed with "scathing psalms and holy hymn books," represents the oppressive force of religious orthodoxy. The monks, who "nailed us on a cross," personify the punitive aspects of faith, linking the lovers’ suffering to the broader narrative of martyrdom and redemption.
The lovers’ prayers for themselves and for Jesus suggest a complex relationship with religion, blending defiance with a yearning for divine understanding. This interplay between rebellion and faith adds depth to this Cyprus poem, inviting reflection on the ways in which religious and cultural frameworks shape individual experiences of love and desire.
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