spartan queen
asking nothing for herself
but herself
of course helen fled
an unloving heart
cannot be endured
beauty is a gift
that a husband must keep chained
no matter the tears
a thousand ships launched?
sails filled with whispers of gold
of blood of virgins
and what if paris
had sailed away from true love –
would we forgive him?
or what if paris
adjudged hera the fairest
would we honour him?
no doubt athena
would have been the wisest choice
love is a folly
let us be honest
we crave the passion unleashed
by mortal contest
Francis James Franklin (Alina Meridon) 
Damned patriarchy! 🙂
Absolutely.
Kind of the reminds me of some of the scenes in the 2004 film, “Troy”. Sometimes I got the impression Helen blamed herself for the war, and the death of Hector.
It’s a long time since I watched that. I guess it would be natural for Helen to blame herself, and indeed for many people of the time to blame her. But I have to ask: what could make Helen leave homeland, birthright, divine responsibilities and even her child? Could it really have been a romantic impulse to be with a young, foreign prince? More likely she was abducted against her will, or was escaping a life made wretched by an abusive husband, or was driven to an irrational passion by Aphrodite – and if it was any of these we can hardly blame Helen for leaving.
True, I agree. Love and fear can make people risk everything, including a long, massive war.
Love the poem. I’ve always been fascinated with Helen and Paris’ story.
I may have mentioned this before, but the character of the Dancer in my novel Kings of Infinite Space is called Bas’Lillene, a name that is a contraction of Bast, Lilith and Helen(e). There was a whole weird backstory to that before she evolved into an altogether more remarkable creation.
That’s very interesting. I’m going to have to look into that. Thanks!
Well, it’s not in the novel at all, but I have fragments of ideas for other books in the ‘series’ (which I doubt will ever actually be written), and Bas’Lillene as Helen of Troy is very clear in my head.
Write the books!