Joe Dolce: ‘Anemone’

Anemone
for the counter-tenor, Max Riebl (1991–2022). Too beautiful for earth. —Anon

Venus wept over dying Adonis,
she wept the sweetest nectar of tears.

How fragile and brief, Anemone,
petals so lightly attached, Anemone,
oh how quickly they fall, Anemone,
blow away with the wind, Anemone.

When Adonis died, flowers sprung from his veins,
buds and blossoms the fragrance of blood.

Oh how fragile and brief, Anemone,
petals so lightly attached, Anemone,
oh how quickly they fall, Anemone,
blow away with the wind, Anemone.

Venus wept over dying Adonis,
she wept for the one who was taken too soon.

Oh how fragile and brief, Anemone,
petals so lightly attached, Anemone,
oh how quickly they fall, Anemone,
blow away with the wind, Anemone.

Joe Dolce