Modern Troy

I understand the old story,
the horse, the war
the woman.

i've seen the old
enough to not covet,
my fingers still hold
together

but I am

lifting the lid on
your impossibility

the contour.

the meaning that slips
by

already around the corner.

— whitetea, Apr 29, 2008

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: United States, USA

Favorite Poets: Chrystos, Mark Strand, Adrienne Rich, Naomi Shihab Nye, Rachel M. Simon, Donald Justice, Mary Oliver, Nikki Giovanni, Alice Walker, Bukowski, Mary Lambert

Critiques

Barbara Writes

18 years ago

Great start

Smiles:) Barbara The first stanza captivated me, but the second stanza kinda lost me. After that I couldn't get image. Not sure what your title troy means.

whitetea

18 years ago

>

Mmm. Yeah. I did come out of it a little sketchy. This is kind of one of those don't judge a book by its cover things or a woman literally by her (outer) shell. I was thinking about how obsessive pop culture and society in general is about a woman having to be beautiful. And once she is marked that way, how commanding it becomes. I'm referencing to Helen of Troy. She was able to cause quite a stir. Maybe she did have the inner graces to go along with her beauty. Even still so many men were killed because two men couldn't settle without her provided satisfaction. I thought back to her while writing this when I think of how thirsty society is for beauty, and how pop culture demands a woman ooze with sex appeal. Its almost offensive for that to be priority over identity.

Barbara Writes

18 years ago

Helen of Troy

Smiles:) Barbara Not familiar with the story of Helen of Troy. She sound intriguing.

rider68

18 years ago

Rather than read and walk by

I too share Barbare's reservations,I have to say that although I remember the period, and faintly the story of Helen, I struggle to combined the both,......Lack of education,/Understanding: Best Regards Peter ~~~~~~~~~Creativity Is to think more efficiently~~~~~~~~~~