Venus and Adonis

Stay
moans
Venus
love's goddess
Titian's writhing nude.
Adonis springs hot from her bed
his blushes define the child out-grown by his body.
He is dressed for hunting, she's undressed for him, helpless love personified by its queen
who is now tasting the pain she inflicts on us all.
His dogs salivate sensing blood,
the boy is confused:
why this fuss?
Venus sees
the death
of
youth.