Author Notes
The lowercase and no punctuation presentation is intentional. Unfortunately, I was unable to change the text to the Papyrus font, which really suits this poem much better.
In layman's terms, when Narcissus was a sixteen years old deer-hunter, the nymph Echo (another reflection) fell in love with him. But her love was not returned, and she disappeared from woods and mountains, fading away. It is told that not even her bones remained, having been turned into stone, but that her voice still lives in her. Besides Echo, many other nymphs and youths sought Narcissus' love, but were ignored by him. Finally one of them prayed to heaven and that prayer was heard by Nemesis. And so Narcissus, having come to a pool to quench his thirst, saw his reflection in its smooth surface, and fell in love with it. But since he could not obtain the object of his love, he died of sorrow by the same pool. The nymphs grieved him, including Echo. But when they prepared his funeral pyre, they could not find his body. Instead they found the flower that today bears his name.
However, on doing some further research (courtesy of Google) I've learnt that some scholars believe that his twin sister, whom he loved so much, died and he was trying to be with her, even if it was via the reflection that mirrored his own image.
Whatever the facts, he has always intrigued me and I chose this Myth as the subject for one of my poetry class assignment. I hope you enjoy it.
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