Helen's Plight

Helen sighs from her rooftop hideout,
Sky as pink as her cheeks the day she met Paris,

Regret burning at her insides like hellfire

And tears falling for her unheard desire

To go home. Below her, Paris plays his lyre,
Infernal music begging her to remember

How it felt during those first months together,

Before she looked out the window and saw her true husband never surrender

In his pursuit of her. She should be flattered or mad but instead she just cries;

She’s never missed something so much in her whole life.

To think this all started because no one invited Strife

To a wedding! She has to suffer because a man wanted love over power

Or an empire? She’s seen him on the battlefield cower
While his own men’s looks towards him turn sour.
Perhaps one day he’ll somehow discover

That he never even really had her

Love. She’s always belonged to another

And nothing can change that.

She’s loyal to Menelaus despite the fact
She never wanted him either,

But she’d grown to care for him and she’d been okay

She has a daughter and thinking of her makes her homesick

Again. She left her heart behind in Sparta

For all of Paris and Aphrodite’s enchantment

Luring her away. She now lives day to day

Her only goal being to delay

The inevitable moment when Paris drags her to his bed

And has his way with her until he’s dead

To the world. Aphrodite can stand and watch

And the whole of Greece can whisper and judge

But she’s no s**t, she’s no demon -

It’s not her fault these men can’t resist her!

The sky’s turned black and the darkness hides

The bloodied landscape below her to the right.

Helen turns her back on the moon and retreats inside:

Tomorrow holds more bloodshed in her name, and she cries.

Author's Note

In November 2018 I began a series of poems about the Trojan War and the lives of the characters during it.

Reviews

[Jade]

I haven't heard of the Trojan war, But I do like this write, Lots of emotion in this write.

[ShubhamT]

I have not read the Trojan War but reading your poems I am much excited.