Ancient Tales of Love and War



The pipes and women wail and skirl,
deaths following the flowering girl.
Ancient tales of love and war
show costs of dimple or a curl.

Tamil spear tips illustrate
intent before the towering gate;
bangles slide on her young wrists;
kings make war when made to wait.

Gods and goddesses choose sides:
a Trojan steals a youthful bride.
Who Trojans were we’ll never know -
Greeks burn the city, once inside.

A lovely face, a swelling bust -
and treasure, fame - inspired by lust
kings storm the ramparts, steal the girl,
before, like all, they turn to dust.

Robin Helweg-Larsen

If you have any thoughts about this poem,  Robin Helweg-Larsen would be pleased to hear them.

The image is of a volute krater (a vessel for diluting win) depicting the battle between Achilles and Hector.