Hot gates, Thermopylae
promise kept to enemies
of Spartan life,
conqueror’s strife.
To have been there
love of flawed sphere
country, dear and my own;
faulted freedom flown
raised on the backs of captured lives,
sons dragged from mothers, wives
to nurse for hand
of beloved motherland;
and yet when called upon
defense of home came, one
led in the point, words and deed
of spear and swords, there to lead
the man whom one called lord and king
men with sons home, took harshest sting
stood to defend
to certain end.
Women had a voice
mated by their choice.
I’d have loved for remembrance
Spartan woman, last dance, glance
before lifting sword and spear
long march into sunset over fear;
Heat of war, such bittersweet irony
men stepped towards greater humanity
promise to adoration, life’s short visit
to return with my shield or upon it.
Author notes
480 BC...The Battle of Themopylae[ 300 Spartans] small army led by Spartan King held off a vastly larger Persian army. All were lost but the struggle became a symbol for freedom and inspired Greek culture.
In a list
A contest entry
- I Weep For Times Long Past by Shakespeare.
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Comments
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Fantastic write!
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Stunning!
Capturing an age and enchanting the future, much like the movie "300" I happen to watch weekly...lol This was superb!
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