The fall of Troy

I

The fall

After ten years, the siege was lifted
The encircling army gone off in their ships
Leaving the Horse as recompense
We hardly considered it, in the delirium of victory;
Brought it into the city, and then
Gave over our night to drink.

Few noticed as the shrieks changes pitch
Laughter dying as the gutters ran red
Flames licking up to the wooden roofs
As shadowy figures, armour clinking,
Sought out the handful of sober guards.

It was a different dawn
Than we had dreamed the day before
Victory become defeat.
Lines of captive women and children queued
To fill the ships, some looking back
At the smoking ruin of their homes
While the men lay dead, unburied,
Unregarded by the Greeks,
Laden with loot, laughing.


There was a rumour
The Prince had got away
Escaped with his family;
But rumours will fly wildly
And even if true
Remove no chains,
Open no locks.


II

Cassandra

I have been proud
I have told the truth
Though fated not to be believed
I warned them
With unwelcome doubts
They chose to ignore

And though I 'm now
Dragged into exile
To be some prince's trophy bride
It still is good
To be proved right:
But I'd rather have been listened to.


III

Aeneas

Despite the tears that we shed
We must rebuild the walls of Troy
This is the debt we owe the dead

It's difficult to look ahead
When time's done nothing but destroy
Despite the tears that we shed

Comfortless words must be said
A duty that none can enjoy
This is the debt we owe the dead

Memories of the lives they led
Urge our talents into employ
Despite the tears that we shed

Though auguries can be misread
And the future vision can be coy
This is the debt we owe the dead


Martin Locock 2003