Poems For Ocean
Alexander's Men
I
know he sleeps, but let us praise
The man who gilded all our
days,
Reflecting on us godly worth:
No greater man has
walked the earth.
I
know he sweats, but let me say
With him we’ve marched
since Philip’s day:
First in Greece, then with him
foremost
To battles far beyond our coasts.
I
know he sighs, but let me show
What we his camp-mates ever
know:
To be as heroes he us called,
And him the bravest one
of all.
I
know he tosses and he turns,
Break down the wall, let those who
yearn
Into the regal chamber troop,
And one last time
before him stoop.
I
know he stares, and speakest not,
But still his eyes I see burn
hot
With pride to see us, men of steel,
Who with him Asia
made to kneel.
I
know he dies, and far from home,
While we to verge of Ocean
roamed.
But here he planted town and field,
Where plough in
place of sword we wield.
I
know we weep, and him adored
We watch into the ether soar.
But
all is Greek, where once he walked,
And always will they of him
talk.