Too Much of a Good Thing

by Brett Rutherford

     adapted from Meleager, The Greek Anthology, v. 57

Persistent as a seagull, a cormorant,

as arrogant as a pigeon in the square,

Eros descends on me, earth-bound,

hemmed into one city whose walls

I seldom leave out of sight: target

almost as predictable as a statue —

show me some mercy. Hot arrows

descend weekly, daily — in summer,

I swear, hourly — demanding I pursue

this one and that one, never-ending.

Is it my destiny to fall in love

with everything two-legged?

Before my loins give out, my soul

will part ways with me. Cruel boy,

making the fool of me, a soul, too,

has wings, and what if she leaves?