Marathon - Poem #99

“Peace”
“No more hurting people”
A little prince wise beyond his years
eyes filled with promise
of great deeds to come.

Greeting the victors
adding his accolades
Athens triumphant
a laurel wreath
crowning Pheidippides.

Amongst the multitude in the agora
the shadow of death
stunted specters
souls without hope, their darkness falling
over a prince of hopes and dreams

Wails from the multitude
the wise princely eyes
covered with coins
payment to Charon
for the journey ‘cross the Styx.

And the multitude wept
as the Oracles screamed
and spoke in babble;
fists shaken at heaven
asking why, while Zeus was silent

And Zeus answered
“Shake not your fists at heaven asking why
for some things you cannot know;
take comfort that you are not alone.
After all, did not the gods abandon even mighty Troy?”

.

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

As I recall, Pheidippides was the runner who brought the news of the victory of Marathon to Athens in 490 BCE. Then, exhausted, he died. That kind of downside to victory seems to pervade this poem, suggesting the boy in verse 1, who eyes are filled with the promise of future great deeds, is in for some correction by life. It isn't all winning, sadly, even for the champions. There can be some really dark times, as Zeus states, reminding the Greeks of the fate of Troy. This work is an excellent cautionary tale for all of us. Well done.

[toritto]

Thank you John. Glad you like. I wrote it several weeks after the Boston bombing. Best regards from Florida.