As a kid, i ofter wondered my folks deliberated on the name Daphne, for me - of which the various stories i've heard from mommy goes somewhat like "because i think the name sounds nice", or "I was comtemplating between naming you Jolene or Daphne, but i guess i liked Daphne better". Hah!
For starters, my name was the derivative of a Laurel plant in greek.
According to the greek mythology, Daphne was a nymph who was better know as Apollo's supposed first love. Alas it was a futile love story that lives to tell.
The geist of the story begins as a malice of Cupid, who was pissed at Apollo's sacarstic remarks, causing Cupid to draw 2 arrors of different makes from his quiver - the first was a gold, sharp pointed gold arrow, shot at Apollo that was meant to excite love, while the latter, a blunt arrow tipped with lead was aimed at Daphne, causing her to repel the thought of loving.
Seized with love, Apollo pursued Daphne dementedly.
As she fled,he followed after, swifter than the wind.
Apollo said to Daphne:
I am not a foe. Do not fly me as a lamb flies the wolf, or a dove fleding the hawk.
It is for love I pursue you. You make me miserable, fearing that you should fall and hurt yourself on these stones, and I should be the cause. Pray run slower, and I will follow slower. My arrows fly true to the mark;but alas! An arrow more fatal than mine has pierced my heart!
( I'm feeling rather unindustrious summerising at the moment, do pardon the lame text insert)
The nymph continued her flight, and left his pleas half uttered.
So flew the god on the wings of love, and she on those of fear.
Daphne eventually transformed into a Laurel tree when she pleaded with her father (a river god) to get her out of her predicament.
"Since you cannot be my wife,"said Apollo, "you shall assuredly be my tree. I will wear you for my crown, and with you I will decorate my harp and my quiver. When the great Roman conquerors lead up the triumphal pomp to the Capitol, you shall be woven into wreaths for their brows. And,as eternal youth is mine, you also shall be always green, and your leaf know no decay." (wow!)
Such a sad story, but ZzZzz.. i hope no one's fallen asleep from reading this yet.
*
But the bottom line of my purpose in writing this story is to accentuate that
life and love is full of one way streets.
Heed traffic advise, and use alternate routes - no point contributing to the jam statistics.
After all, Unreciprocated emotions are merely a matter of misguided arrows.
Cheer up, twiddle thumb and hope for better aims and accuracy! :)
