Flying a Kite Lyrics

Lyric discussion by frankiegoestostoke 

Cover art for Flying a Kite lyrics by Joanna Newsom

OK, I'm going to delve deep into protentiousness now. But I think she is alluding to Milton's poem/masque, which is about the loss of innocense/chastity. In the poem a girl gets lost in the forest and is tempted by the spirit Comus to drink a cup of wine (symbolising sex etc...) - but she refuses at the last minute.

Milton: "Deep skill'd in all his mothers witcheries, And here to every thirsty wanderer, By sly enticement gives his banefull cup, With many murmurs mixt, whose pleasing poison The visage quite transforms of him that drinks, And the inglorious likenes of a beast."

Joanna: "The pungent pines The verdant veils The vapid vines And the thousand purple cups of wine The tearing teeth and the four full tines The crumpling feast and the dawdling dine."

Just a thought...