Ganymede
Ganymede - meaning Summary
Divine Desire and Youthful Resistance
This poem recasts the Ganymede myth as a divine attempt to shape a shepherd boy. God first sends a dove, then an eagle, intending to educate and compel gratitude and love of truth. The boy rejects formal instruction and parental embrace, yet willingly follows the eagle and absorbs its habits. The poem contrasts authority and coercion with youthful resistance, showing how admiration can lead to learning darker, violent practices.
Read Complete AnalysesHe looked in all His wisdom from the throne Down on that humble boy who kept the sheep, And sent a dove; the dove returned alone: Youth liked the music, but soon fell asleep. But He had planned such future for the youth: Surely, His duty now was to compel. For later he would come to love the truth, And own his gratitude. His eagle fell. It did not work. His conversation bored The boy who yawned and whistled and made faces, And wriggled free from fatherly embraces; But with the eagle he was always willing To go where it suggested, and adored And learnt from it so many ways of killing.
Feel free to be first to leave comment.