Lupercus Pagani
The Bull of the River
Circled and splashed
His nostrils open wide
Seeking out the scent
Of Leto’s fair daughter
He could taste the mud
And the moss
And the fish
And the birds
But not what he desired most
Far-Shooter, Wearer of Hides
Stood motionless on the bank
Like the quails she had dispatched
As a young girl in the mountains
With her first golden arrows
Alpheios could taste the mud
And the moss
And the fish
And the birds
But not what he desired most
Easer of Childbirth, Tender of the Young
Stood quiet with the wet white clay
Slowly drying as Helios climbed higher
Cracking at her lips, her armpits, and
The place that Alpheios most desired
Fish-tailed King could taste the mud
And the moss
And the fish
And the birds
But not what he desired most
Killer of Niobe’s Children, Defender of Mothers
Knew she must soon make a move
Before the River God discovered her
Quiver and bow lay just in reach…
But, then, a branch snapped!
Alpheios turned his head
No animal was this
Not a deer
Not a boar
But what he desired most
Arethusa had walked all morning
Eager to bathe with Artemis
And her retinue of nymphs
She was young and pure
But not ready to wed
Alpheios moved closer to the sound
The pale flesh, the wide eyes
Long black hair falling to her waist
Overwhelmed by his passions
He thought this was the Goddess herself
Hooves turned to calloused hands
That grasped Arethusa’s thin wrists
As he knocked her to the ground
With a sweep of his spiny fins
Finally, he would have the Goddess herself!
Daughter of Thundering Zeus, Sister of Just Apollon
Would not allow this girl to be sacrificed
As River God’s tongue pushed into Arethusa’s mouth
He tasted only the pure water of a spring
Which then flowed into the river currents
The Bull of the River
Circled and splashed
His nostrils open wide
Seeking out the scent
Of the maid Arethusa
He followed her to the sea
Around islands
Around rocks
Around ships
Until he reached Sikelia
Lady of Quails, Bringer of Light
Split open the hard salty ground
And allowed fresh water to bubble up
Becoming her sacred home
Inviolate
The Bull of the Sea
Circled and splashed
His nostrils open wide
Seeking out the scent
Of the maid Arethusa
Alpheios climbed onto the Ortygian shore
Fishermen thought he was Poseidon
And feared earthquakes would follow
What had they done to anger him?
But the Bull soon left
White One, Saviour
Returned to the River
Without a God
And the nymphs greeted her as
Alpheia
neosalexandria 