Andromache Pleads With Helen

I stood upon the walls of Troy

And watched my city burn

While rivers of blood flowed

Cutting deep into the ground-

I knew this would be our fate

When you stepped onto our shore

Dragging death in your wake

Like a soldier of the Furies.

Curse Paris, idle, flighty Paris

And his love that brought you here-

Curse your beauty, tragic beauty

That has taken everything from me.

My husband donned his helm

And with no amount of pleading

Could I convince him to stay away

From the battle raging at our door.

His pride, his courage were too strong

For him to stand peacefully aside

And so he fought with swift Achilles

Who slaughtered him in a rage.

My brave Hector died a hero

For his city and for his kin

Yet his body is defiled by vile Achilles

Pulled through the dust like trash-

He lies uncovered in shame

Though he deserves the highest honor.

You are the harbinger of doom

And Ilium's fall is imminent.

The House of Priam is broken

And his family is reduced to tears.

My tears are warm and unending-

I have cried them since I heard the call

As it resounded over the walls

That Hector had breathed his last.

Before I could even mourn his soul

Sent to Hades far too soon

My son was sent there at his side-

As a  further insult, so now

It is not I who nurses Troy's princes

But the dark lady Persephone.

Aphrodite, don't you know Ares follows you?

It was your eyes, your hair, your lips

For which the Argive ships set sail

Ten long, bitter years ago.

Leave this place, flee from my home

You are not welcome here-

Your face reminds me of each loss.

I implore you to leave this minute

And if Tyche has any love left for Troy

Ares will chase you like he does

Far from this city you destroyed.