troyas

oh merry lad, be not a fool
hold still your tongue, and do not rule
if three bright women ask of thee
which one of them the fairer be

for know, that once my city shined
it seemed our clouds with gold were lined
but then that question tore it down
and razed the land where stood my town

my brother dear did take the task
that queen and love and guardian asked
but goddess trick is mortals woe
for any answer gained a foe

and blood, my blood his answer gave
for he had not the mind to blaithe
when cupid strung his hated bow
my brother brought our greatest foe

love offered him so sweet a gift
he took, not caring what would rift
he stole a wife, though honored guest
and guaranteed we'd never rest

that theft of beauty brought the wrath
of kingdoms down upon our path
the heart he took was not his own
and thickly salt and stryfe were sown

the forces came in many ships
to capture back those tainted lips
they raged around this city mine
with battle not so fair or fine

as seasons passed, without respite
of fire and pitch, and spit and fight
the bitter cup did overflow
with heros blood spilled with a blow

the heavens turned against our kind
a bastard sun refused to shine
the wounds were many, we and they
when tired, they seemed to go away

a parting gift, they gave my kind
that seemed, unto my weary mind
as foul as poison devils meat
with secrets hid within the treat

but countrymen of mine did feast
and laughed when I spoke of the beast
they did not know, when sun did rise
that death would meet their bleary eyes

and when the dawn began its course
like ore' ripe fruit did split the horse
for enemies were hid inside
when peace was spoke, they knew they lied

my father on the alter slain
in temples, they did us profane
their hardened hearts too hard to pray
would rue this on another day

but on that morn, that counted naught
and sword and flame became our lot
our loss became eternal then
with blackened walls as thick as sin

the golden beauty, oh so fair
had torn our land beyond repair
my sisters, and my mother, me
were scattered far beyond the sea

so this I warn you, if one day
three ladies stop by you to say
'which one of us the fairer be?'
do not ye choose among the three


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"and so i travel back.... a slightly older poem, but the danger of playing in photoshop is that you actually want to use what you come up with. and, this is one of my favorites anyways...

going back to a very familiar (to me) speaker, the same one i used in 'of light and lies' but describing events after that particular poem."


   .  .  .  .   select again  . . .  email the author  . . .  poem is © Pauline E Williamson

 

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