Alexander The Great's Sonnet
Sweet novelty of
death! You’ve heard my prayer,
O gods! There’s more adventure! I am not
Condemned to
idleness. In brief despair
My reason was
confounded. I forgot
The underworld that can be molded by
My sword and genius,
too. Profounder war
Will justify me
further. O gods, I
Shall meld from
parts a better whole. Once more,
I’ll combine East and West and redefine
The normal taste in
men--my own won’t be
Scorned but
admired. Good standards will be mine
And I the norm. Have confidence in me,
Commission me, O Gods. I’ll serve you well.
I’ll take my sword
to every inch of hell!
Cleopatra VII's Sonnet
O gods, you should
receive at least as large
A welcome as mere
Romans had from me.
The Styx of course
should waft me on a barge
To you with purple
plumèd finery
At least as grand as that displayed before
Mere men. You’ve no less right to girls perfumed
As sweetest flowers
(or to soft skin that’s more
Inviting than a
couch or to queens groomed
More perfectly than sculptures to be found
In shrines.) You’ve no less right to unwrap each
Fold of some gentle
garments that surround
A pleasure that lies
well within your reach.
Gods, take me now so no fools ever can
Pretend that gods
are favored less than man.
© Harold Anthony Lloyd 2016
The current contents of "The Apology Box" can be found here.
© Harold Anthony Lloyd 2016
The current contents of "The Apology Box" can be found here.
