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AN EKPHRASIS POEM FOR BOTTICELLI

Updated: Dec 3, 2020


In an orange grove, there are eight adult figures: Venus, the Goddess of Love is at the center of the orange grove. To her left is Flora, the Goddess of Flowers and Spring. Next to her is Chloris, who is pursued by Zephyrus who is the God of Wind. To the right of Venus are the Three Graces, which are the female companions of Venus. Next to them is Mercury, who is the Messenger of the Gods. He inspects the orange grove and protects the garden from intruders. Above Venus, is her son Amor. He shoots his arrows of love which intensifies the emotion of love of whoever the arrow strikes.
"Florence, 1984" by nathanh100 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

“Primavera in the Orange Grove”

By Emily Radell


The flowers surround me,

Wrapping themselves in my curls to form a crown atop my head,

Gathering at the base of my neck and down my dress

Until they sprout at my feet in reds, pinks and white.


My past self stands behind me,

Vines connecting us as she turns away,

Into the eyes of Zephyrus reaching for her under the orange grove.

His wings catching in the branches as the West Wind pulls.


To my right, the Three Graces: Pleasure, Chastity and Beauty,

Interconnected by touch with gowns of lace that hug every curve

And eyes that pierce the soul of one another,

All but Pleasure who can’t tear her sight from the God of May


Cast in his signature helmet and winged sandals,

Combatting a storm cloud,

Pushing it out of this Primavera frame.


But alas, in the center stands the Goddess of Love and Beauty herself,

Silhouetted by the leaves of spring.

A cross between mythology, A Goddess and a “Virgin”

Whose son can’t help but wield his mighty bow and aim.


 

Emily Radell is studying English at NMSU with a concentration in Literature, Language and Culture and a minor in Journalism. She currently lives in Las Cruces and is expected to graduate in the Spring of 2022. She hopes to be accepted to an MFA program post-graduation and aspires to pursue a career in publishing. Emily wants to become an acquisitions editor for a major or medium sized publishing house in YA or Contemporary fiction. She enjoys reading a variety of genres --- fiction, self-help, memoir, among others --- and listens to Ted Talks and podcasts in her free time on current events and social issues.

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