To Lucy

A caution for C.S. Lewis's Lucy in Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

 

O perfect Helen, hide thy gorgeous face;

let not the artist catch thy tempting glance

and capture it in painted majesty.

For even constant time cannot erase

the damage of an army’s fast advance;

thy history shall be a travesty.

 

Persephone, forever shun thy smile;

wear not the supple garlands thou hast wrought

from blossoms picked in innocent intent.

For never couldst thou know the serpent’s guile

nor guess the hungry price thine absence bought;

O hear thy wint’ry people’s dark lament!

 

Sweet Lucy, reconsider if you will

the choice to lionize your loveliness.

Do not let valiance yield to vanity –

if beauty’s bitter hold incites one kill,

imagine all the lust men’s hearts possess;

Should death warrant such inhumanity?   

 

Obey the lion-pages, hear the roar,

the warning He beyond the sea has sent

to caution beauty as a fickle thing.

Remember, much is sacrificed in war:

recall the price, the blood-sealed covenant

that bought your brother’s freedom, and the spring.

Author's Note

I know it's really obscure...