Ancient Egypt, Greece & Rome

To Helen of Troy

        April 5, 2001

O Helen! Beauty, love, and slaughter!
The bravest soldiers' death for you!
We think this myth must leave you flattered:
you caused the famous Troy be made anew!

The blood? The wounds? Why would you care?
You've got the splendor, father is a god,
your love contested for, by the most noble,
the worthiest of men!
They are supposed to die for beauty -
That's fine if you don't have a heart!

That's what we think.
And we forget
that you did breathe,
and live, and feel...
And did not make a single choice
about your life...
that the most gorgeous Aphrodite,
who thought you were a lovely doll,
had a caprice,
that led you off from the brave Sparta
to that great place...
...where you may not have wished to go...

And it is interesting that Paris,
he wasn't adequate for you -
creative Aphrodite changed his looks
                to match your beauty...
                to win your love...

Did she succeed?..