Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE ILIAD: ACHILLES OVER THE TRENCH, by HOMER Poet's Biography First Line: So saying, light-footed iris pass'd away Last Line: To war, but never welcomed his return. Variant Title(s): Achilles On The Rampart;achilles Defies The Trojans Subject(s): Achilles; Mythology - Classical; Trojan War; War | ||||||||
So saying, light-foot Iris pass'd away. Then rose Achilles dear to Zeus; and round The warrior's puissant shoulders Pallas flung Her fringed aegis, and around his head The glorious goddess wreath'd a golden cloud, And from it lighted an all-shining flame. As when a smoke from a city goes to heaven Far off from out an island girt by foes, All day the men contend in grievous war From their own city, but with set of sun Their fires flame thickly, and aloft the glare Flies streaming, if perchance the neighbors round May see, and sail to help them in the war; So from his head the splendor went to heaven. From wall to dyke he stept, he stood, or join'd The Achaeans -- honoring his wise mother's word -- There standing, shouted, and Pallas far away Call'd; and a boundless panic shook the foe. For like the clear voice when a trumpet shrills, Blown by the fierce beleaguerers of a town, So rang the clear voice of AEakides; And when the brazen cry of AEakides Was heard among the Trojans, all their hearts Were troubled, and the full-maned horses whirl'd The chariots backward, knowing griefs at hand; And sheer-astounded were the charioteers To see the dread, unweariable fire That always o'er the great Peleion's head Burn'd, for the bright-eyed goddess made it burn. Thrice from the dyke he sent his mighty shout, Thrice backward reel'd the Trojans and allies; And there and then twelve of their noblest died Among their spears and chariots. The Achaeans Eagerly dragg'd Patroculus from the fight And laid him on a bier. His friends stood round Weeping, and with them swift Achilles went And shed hot tears, seeing his faithful friend Laid on the litter, pierc'd with sharp-edg'd bronze; -- Him had he sent with chariots and horses To war, but never welcomed his return. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...I AM YOUR WAITER TONIGHT AND MY NAME IS DIMITRI by ROBERT HASS MITRAILLIATRICE by ERNEST HEMINGWAY RIPARTO D'ASSALTO by ERNEST HEMINGWAY WAR VOYEURS by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA THE DREAM OF WAKING by RANDALL JARRELL THE SURVIVOR AMONG GRAVES by RANDALL JARRELL SO MANY BLOOD-LAKES by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE ODYSSEY: THE GARDENS OF ALCINOUS by HOMER |
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