JUVEN
loverboy hyacinthus
by Ivi Hua
loverboy hyacinthus
i. to asphodel he falls.
loverboy hyacinthus,
skin split temple ruptured,
mortal body waylaid across the fields,
discus golden-molten melted.
soul devoured, stolen away by death,
his body sprouts blossoms as last blessings,
honey sweet, honeysuckle-adjacent.
the very sun loved him,
for gods only bless in breathless agony,
lungs collapsed into smatterings of stars.
ii. fair game in mutual sorrow.
hyacinthus, loverboy hyacinthus,
you died because the west wind wanted your love.
he blew so spitefully silver, forever losing to gold.
you were the sun’s, the sun was yours.
the wind was inconsequential
until it wasn’t.
so tonight you unfurl, sprout and root,
your consciousness spirited away,
never again known to be living.
the earth will love you more than either of them will.
iii. faulted stars.
sun god, sun sorrowful, you loved him too much.
bleeding soil-deaths are not made for immortals,
so instead you are left to linger
in the wake of what remains.
bring your sparrow-swift retribution to the west wind, apollo.
mortal blood draped across your fingertips,
loverboy hyacinthus now blossoming, take to the skies.
you threw the discus, you paid the price.
i. to asphodel he falls.
loverboy hyacinthus,
skin split temple ruptured,
mortal body waylaid across the fields,
discus golden-molten melted.
soul devoured, stolen away by death,
his body sprouts blossoms as last blessings,
honey sweet, honeysuckle-adjacent.
the very sun loved him,
for gods only bless in breathless agony,
lungs collapsed into smatterings of stars.
ii. fair game in mutual sorrow.
hyacinthus, loverboy hyacinthus,
you died because the west wind wanted your love.
he blew so spitefully silver, forever losing to gold.
you were the sun’s, the sun was yours.
the wind was inconsequential
until it wasn’t.
so tonight you unfurl, sprout and root,
your consciousness spirited away,
never again known to be living.
the earth will love you more than either of them will.
iii. faulted stars.
sun god, sun sorrowful, you loved him too much.
bleeding soil-deaths are not made for immortals,
so instead you are left to linger
in the wake of what remains.
bring your sparrow-swift retribution to the west wind, apollo.
mortal blood draped across your fingertips,
loverboy hyacinthus now blossoming, take to the skies.
you threw the discus, you paid the price.
Ivi Hua is a writer and poet in the U.S. She has a terrible habit of procrastinating, but when she isn't, she's writing, reading, or stressing over life. You can find her @livia.writes.stories on Instagram.