we die forgotten
The Chorus -
Cunning, not the feat of arms, brought fair Ilium low,
Unmasked Achilles gambit leading him to Troy,
Drove the swift knife into Iphigenia's breast
To ply cruel Artimus for fair following winds.
But the fates cut many lives short on Ilium's shores
Hopes of glory dashed for thousands who fought and died
Their shadows haunting Hades’ dark, lifeless halls:
Noble Hector no match for enraged Achilles,
Nor the son of Peleus, Paris' swift arrows.
Who won the laurel of Achille's golden armor
And was named Greatest of the Greeks if not Ajax?
But he who knew no honor save ruthless cunning,
Wily Odysseus, gained both, and the better man,
Mighty Ajax, fell upon his sword in sorrow,
His soul traveling the lonely roads to Hades’ keep.
But the gods' wroth did not end at the sack of Troy,
Agamemnon would rue his daughter's sacrifice
When his wife and her lover knifed him in his bath.
But he who deceived Troy with the horse filled with Greeks
Would spend ten long years failing to return to home....
Comments (24)
Mmm. Congratulations on top story and a delectable haiku. My well over a hundred year old cherry tree is quite a challenge every summer. This year I purchased a cherry pitter that pits a good handful at a time and drank cherry juice and froze as much as possible for the winter. The gulls come inland from the North Sea and feast on the very top which I don't mind.
I love your haiku as much as I love cherries, my favorite summer fruit. Congrats on Top Story!
Congrats on the Top Story! Well deserved as always. This is a beautiful nod to cherries, summer, and the birthplace of the haiku. Well done!
Delicious!
AHHH! The deliciousness of words....and cherries...and edible souls all combined for a lovely summer. Congrats.
This haiku is so beautiful and imagistic! I love the weight added into the poem from the words "soul" and "worlds." Awesome piece!
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Oooooooooh YESSSS!!! The description is apt. Love me some cherries!
Cherrrrriiieeessss!! What a description, loved it❣️❣️❣️
Scrumptious 😊👍
Oh my. What a yummy haiku. Well done..
Deliciously surreal. Congrats, DJ.
Me encantan las cerezas 🤤
Cherries are summer’s soul. Excellent 😍
Lovely poem! I love cherries, the best summer fruit!
Hai! :)
Love this! “Sweet dark worlds” is a wonderful description. I bought a huge bag of cherries a few days ago and they’re almost gone because they’re so good
Splendid, vivid work D.J.! Now I want some cherries :)
Sweet! Good memories of my time in Japan here...
I don't know why but reading that made me think of watermelons 😅 Loved your Haiku!
A delicious haiku!
Nicely done D.J Reddall
Nice take on the fruit
Yes. Cherries are delicious. Loved this, D.J..