Arcachon, Summer, 1923,
White-Blond Hair
“quite too adorable for words, a perfect pet, so grown up & speaks quite a lot & uses grand phrases. He is the sturdiest little boy I have ever seen & I can’t say he is spoilt.’ ~ Louise, Queen of Sweden, on Philip at the age of two
“the little blue-eyed boy with the most fascinating blond-white hair” ~ Hélène Foufounis on Philip
There’s nothing wrong with being sturdy, or
Intelligent—or beautiful. The strong,
Hot sun, Apollo, spread out on the shore,
Has not forgotten in the centuries long
Since death destroyed gods, that then and now
He was the god of words as well. He spoke
In light and poetry. The laurel bough
Was his to give. New little boys evoke
Divinity along the Middle Sea
Especially when they can give bright tongue
To words and phrases. They make a decree
Received by aunts and mothers of the young.
The other children near them recognize
Them too, that blueness in their holy eyes.
This poem is part of a shorter sonnet sequence within this large sonnet sequence called The Encyclopedia Sonnetica. The shorter sonnet sequence is called “Philip, Prince of Greece and Great Britain.” I recommend you read this poem where it is set in its sonnet sequence. To do that, search for “Philip, Prince of Greece and Great Britain” here in The Encyclopedia Sonnetica.