The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Challenges
    • Challenge Archives
  • Ebooks
  • Prizes
  • Book Shelf
    • Ekphrastic Book Shelf
    • Contributors' Book Shelf
    • TERcets Podcast
  • Workshops
  • Give
  • Submit
  • Contact
  • About/Masthead

Narcissus, by Susan P. Blevins

9/23/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Photograph of Sol Lewitt’s installation, Glossy and Flat Black Squares, at Rice Gallery, Rice University, Spring 2017. Photo by Susan P. Blevins.

Narcissus

Narcissus gazed into the glossy black pool and
saw within the shiny depths, reflections of such
beauty, that he fell in love with those muted, gentle
tones, the softened image he could not perceive
to be himself.  He felt happiness wash over him as
he stared into the depths, thinking that finally he had
found his true love, his mate, his alter ego.

He returned the next day to the same secret place,
but when he peered into the black pool, this time flat and
lifeless, no image smiled back at him, no joy enticed him.  
All life had left the blackness, and all he felt was infinite 
nothingness, a perfect death which absorbed all colours, 
all his features, all his soul.  No stars glimmered back at
him, no sun illumined his perfect ignorance.

He never understood that he carried within himself the
inner joy to light the darkness, that his own soul was
the sun of consciousness to indicate his path and give him life.
He never understood that his own dark pain prevented him from 
perceiving all the light and beauty that just yesterday had been revealed, 
a glimpse of paradise, the promise of eternity.

He said goodbye to this special place, his spirit and heart broken,
never to return, sorrow and solitude now his only companions,
seeking always what he already had, but  in his waking sleep, 
not understanding, that all along,
the choice was his.

Susan P. Blevins 

Susan P. Blevins was born in England, lived 26 years in Italy, and has now resided in the USA for the past 24 years, first in Taos, NM, and currently in Houston, TX.   While living in Rome she had a weekly column in an international, English-language newspaper, writing about food and restaurant reviews primarily, though not exclusively. Since living in the USA she has written pieces on gardens and gardening for N. American and European publications, and she is now writing stories of her life and travels and gaining traction in various literary publications. She loves reading, writing, cats,  classical music, and stimulating conversation.​
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    The Ekphrastic Review
    Picture
    Current Prompt
    COOKIES/PRIVACY
    This site uses cookies to deliver your best navigation experience this time and next. Continuing here means you consent to cookies. Thank you.
    Join us on Facebook:
    Picture
    Picture



    ​
    ​Archives
    ​

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    Lorette C. Luzajic theekphrasticreview@gmail.com 

  • The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Challenges
    • Challenge Archives
  • Ebooks
  • Prizes
  • Book Shelf
    • Ekphrastic Book Shelf
    • Contributors' Book Shelf
    • TERcets Podcast
  • Workshops
  • Give
  • Submit
  • Contact
  • About/Masthead