Beauty in nature evokes its direct opposite
Because that's the kind of world this is
One of mirrors and contradictions
One of equal and opposite reactions
Yin and yang, baby
Yin and yang

Every earthly creature has its time beneath the sun
In this mystery-shrouded realm
Of paradox and pain
Flashes of glory against a merciless sky
With a whimper, baby
Or with a bang
Or a moan

I do not ask that you feel my pain and live my life,
for to inflict the burdens of war upon the people
would defeat the entire purpose for which I went to war.
For the battles the people are told of are fair tales,

Meant to inspire some youth to emulate our example.
For him to forge his body into a tool that obeys
no matter the shape that the smith dictates.
Many dream of a being mighty spear or shield, but

Some say that my father was not my father,
that such beauty could only come from the gods,
and that I was delivered from a glorious egg,
For my father had taken the form of a swan.

before ravaging my mother with his lusts.
And when men came seeking divine wives,
I was chosen, and taken from my home,
and only the actions of my brothers prevented disaster.

You were not present upon the field
and so you have no right to speak of it.
When the walls fell I took what was mine by right
and you have no right to speak of it.

Who are you to judge me? A soldier, the greatest.
For I was the one who spared Achilles body from
the cruel revenge of the Trojans. I was the one
who stood glorious on the field, showing my courage,

A stone I marked with color as a girl,
and placed it upon a pillar with thanks,
and as I stand upon the beach it returns,
the paint stained with humors and blood.

Scattered are all my works. Burned is my home.
Murdered are my children, and mourned are them all.
I wait for a master to take up the leash
that has been placed upon my neck and I despair.

When my love tried to evade the oaths
that an unjust man had put upon him,
they at first pleaded, then threatened,
but he would not move a finger

And then they took my son, and threatened
that it would be his doing should my son die.
No fault of theirs, they claimed,
For only a madman would harm his own son.

As the great ships were heaved into the sea,
Majestically I stood at the prow of the lead,
and proclaimed that I was the forger of the pact
which would reclaim honor against the betrayers.

For I had crushed the nest of murderers,
and taken my rightful place as king,
I paid no heed the miniature vipers
that fled from my heel. Let them find places