Helena

They lay down their arms to worship the night. Then shun the light of day.

 

Looking at you,

one man might say

Is like seeing Homer

within the light of day

For yours was the face

that launched a thousand ships

Your Honor would lead their way

By your heart they would all be judged

Your likeness shown in the evening light

Love of you beckoned them come what may

They followed your stars and never lost sight

Men laid down their arms to worship the night

Then shunned the light of day

 

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Author's Note

The stories that come from long ago have a kernel of truth to them. That is why they have survived

Reviews

[Manie]

This is really a beautiful poem about Helen, the princess whose beauty started that ancient war. I love the way the rhythm sort of changed (or shall I say the one's heartbeat) as the poem progresses. The poem starts out slowly, one expecting it to be a typical love poem for a lady called "Helena". But then "Homer" is metioned and I start to wonder where this is going. Then we read that famous old quote about the face that "launched a thousand ships" and my heart starts to beat at a different rate as I'm visually taken back to Troy at a time of war.

I could almost hear hear the beat of drums and the cry for war. I see those thousand ships at sea, men armed and ready for war, "come what may". All for the love of a woman. Then it gets quiet - "Men laid down their arms to worship the night". One is sort of relieved at this image and the drumbeat stops. But then, SUDDENLY, the drums beat faster then before, and the battle begins "at light of day". Well, that's what I saw :-)

I loved your ending, because even after the last line is read, the reader is still left with a lot of thought. I'm pretty sure that they could use this as an introduction, read by a narrater, to a movie or play about the "Trojan Wars". It sets a nice mood. "Then shunned the light of day...", and as those words end, the next act is played out... the start of the Trojan War...

There is also a line in the middle "...by your heart they all would be judged...", which makes one think. Was the death of thousands of men worth it? Can love be so strong, can beauty be so enticing, that a king would risk his army for it?

Well, these are only my interpretations and thoughts.

Great poem with some beautiful lines and visual imagery that takes us back to ancient greece (or to greek mythology as some would prefer). As a lover of history and mythology I give it 10/10!

[THE LOST ROSE]

Your likeness shown in the evening light.
Love of you beckoned them come what may.
Followed your stars and never lost sight.
Men laid down their arms to worship the night.
Then shunned the light of day.

These lines define me as a wanna be poet. Fantastic poem. I enjoyed this read and the flow of the work. Very sensual and relaxing visual. What a contrast before you read the first verse. There is talent behind these words and I'm glad you are sharing.

[R J Askew]

The word 'honour' leaps out to my mind. 'Honour' seems to play little part in our modern lives, where getting on and winning seem to be more important than how we are morally and spiritually. I hope I am wrong and that honour is still important. Having said that there is a misplaced notion of honour in our midst now in the form of 'honour killings' ... esp of women by men -- uncles, fathers, brothers -- who for some reason known only to them in their loathsome view of the order of things, feel compelled to humiliate, maim, or kill young women in the name of honour. A strange code to live by.

[Sean M. Addams]

a very beautiful piece... liked the detail in this alot... overall a very brillant piece you have here.... nice job on this!!!

[Stacey Watts]

Very beautiful nicely written piece. I think this is a nice take on the myth. Very romantic with seductive feel. Excellent work.

[~LeeAnn~]

Good comparison to a story that we all have raed in our lifetime...

[The Wave]

"Men laid down their arms to worship the night.
Then shunned the light of day."
these lines stood out to me the most.

i'm not sure what to say about this as yet, its got me thinking, and trying to interpret what exactly you meant by this. it is written well, and i should applaud you for creating something that is so thought provoking.
good job.

[Lizanne]

The love of a fair and beautiful woman over the seductress of the night. aka the love of true goodness over pleasure. The love of beauty that overide mens sensibilties in the blueprints of life and its future.

[Bud]

Another Great work of art, Tate! I like it. It has an air of The Iliad within it, too. Keep up the Outstanding works of art!

[Austin Smith]

I remember reading the Iliad in tenth grade. This is a very well sum up of the iliad, and yet I also think it is a great point of view on it. Well done.

[Delightful Writer]

I love the feel to this poem, good work! :)