Beautiful Brutality!

The moment in Spartan upbringing.

Born to sour temperament and political policy,

Weakness gleamed in tremor's slight,

To pale to be of Grecian ilk,

Thank Gods no country side in sight.

Now seven years the barracks beckons,

My Mother's pride sent to the stake,

Twenty three years for the pain in me,

No time for us soldiers to be fake.

Wonders of becoming that horrid equal,

A wife to take but no house to live,

Those whips a dear and cutting friend,

No muscle ever the chance to give.

Now thirty years we slot in perfectly,

So time again now doubled in blue robe,

Strong through beatings beautiful brutality,

We never Athenian but of Spartan abode.

Author's Note

Coming back to my roots.

Reviews

[Dayran]

Each of us rises to the occasion when confronted with the tests brought by life. We never know what we are capable of until we do. But one minute of facing life's realities is sometimes equal to a lifetime of running away in dreams. A poem about the strength of character in trials.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Indeed than you.

[Pryde Foltz]

I can't help but think of how the spartans heart must wither and weaken as his muscles and sinew grow hard. The making of a warrior seems child abuse these days but you poem is wonderful and powerful.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Indeed thank you.

[Baby Ricochet]

Yeah. If you're going to be a warrior you're gonna get a lot of a*s beatings along the way. Great punchy lines as always .

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Thank you.

[~]

There is something about that majestic manhood that is so very alluring and fills my heart with respect and awe. Maybe because my roots pull me closer to that, maybe because I was born a fighter... In any case this poem is just pristine!

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Thank you.

[MomzillaNC]

An eloquent commentary of the commitment and dedication of Spartan society, and the brutality of their success.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Exactly my darling thank you.

[MomzillaNC]

yw :)

[Troy Henson]

A tale told. Very impressive. So much depth to your pieces.

Thank you for sharing

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

thank you troy.

[Valentine]

What was it my brother said to me? Oh yes, " life sucks...and then you die. No one promised us a rose garden, We need to work and gain things for ourselves. Kathie

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Yes indeed, I guess the millions of weakling children sacrificed in Sparta for not being strong deserved it.

[Valentine]

Personally I place children in a different category. Abortions are wrong also. Killing anyone is wrong in my eyes and God's. How could you ask A Christian that. Kathie

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Well this is my point if you had read the piece for what it is you would realise that it is an observation of the Spartans upbringing reviewing with a comment of life's tough rings hollow.

[Shane Mohamed]

Very stern. Attention worthy. Gripping from start to finish. Something about your poetry Thomas that I haven't experienced in any other writer; I'm always startled and keep asking myself: "What's on the next line?" Very bold and well written. Thanks for sharing. A+

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Thank you Shane.

[Lyn Anderson]

The beauty and brutality of Spartan tradition, eloquently penned.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Thank you.

[Brittany Zedalis]

╰☆╮Impressive, in my opinion.╰☆╮

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Thank you.