Love Poem: Hero and Leander - the Surface From Depth
Daver Austin Avatar
Written by: Daver Austin

Hero and Leander - the Surface From Depth

Leander loved Hero, who lived on the opposite side of the strait, and would swim to her each 
night, but was drowned in a tempest. Hero in despair cast herself into the sea.*

What body this    asea    all vision past
This hallow'd temple bobbing half-between?
What vengeful God has sheath'd fond Hero's light
Commanding tempest fingers    long    and    lean?

To wake no more    no more to pad the fields
Of hyacinth on fair Abydos' shore;
Is truth    deep gone    asparay in jet-black waves
Which buoy the spirit on no more    no more

What figure this    at peace    which calmly drounds
While all around the shrieking bedlam raves?
What zealous    spectral God does rage above
Disturbing not the silence of the grave?

*Bullfinch Mythology