by phillipw | Jul 19, 2020 | AC, AL, HE, PA
The Silliness of Men “He ran naked to the supposed site of Achilles’ tomb at Troy, while his male lover, Hephaestion, crowned the tomb of Achilles’ beloved Patroclus.” ~ Robin Lane Fox, The Classical World: an Epic History from Homer to Hadrian Forget about the...
by phillipw | Jul 8, 2020 | AL, BA
Instinct and Alexander the Hateful Achilles, after many years of war, And after losing Patroklus to death, Reacted vilely, more like smelly whore Than man of Greek-sky principles. Blue death And anguish overwhelming him like sea Wave, catastrophic, made by monsters,...
by phillipw | Jul 8, 2020 | AL, EU, OR
Imperfection as Perfection Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem The eyes are white and wide. They look as spare As Orpheus’s when he lost his wife. Yet Alexander never knew such bare And sand-dune...
by phillipw | Jul 5, 2020 | AL, DE
Apollonian Loveliness in the Lands of Eos, Trailing Robes “He would delight his heart while gazing on Their men,” those ancients, the Ionians, This visitor to Delos. God-like brawn Made sons that later Macedonians Would urgently have coveted if they Had seen them...
by phillipw | Jul 5, 2020 | AL, BA, GA, Ho, LO, PO
Bagoas Won Two Prizes, the Great One First and then the Minor One Bagoas, given as a present to The King of Asia, was so stunning in His beauty that he caused a noble, true Benevolence in Alexander. Skin As lovely the younger man’s was more Than equal to the royal...
by phillipw | Jul 3, 2020 | AL, AR, CH, MO, ST
Bitterer than Blue Dreams Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse I sleep with one black perfect curl beneath My pillow. It belongs to love. Below My blond, blond head this curl is like a wreath Of mourning. Blackness almost has a...