Restless, pacing panther-like,
I prowl the palace
Preparing for the gods to punish me,
As is my fate.
A fate I fear not.
For I, Clytemnestra, Queen of Mycenae,
Daughter of Sparta and of Leda,
Have avenged my daughter's death!
The blood of Iphigenia,
Shed by her father,
To assuage the fears and whims
Of ignorant, brutal men.
Lordly Agamemnon,
Once my husband but no more,
For I have murdered him.
And with him, Cassandra
Whom he brought as trophy queen to my domain.
Eleven years and more, his absence I have borne,
Ruling this realm
While he sat outside Ilium
Fighting his foolish brother's war.
Yes, Aegisthus is my lover.
He's greedy for power and gold
Like all of them,
But keeps my bed warm, amuses me;
More important, he does as he is told.
My children see only an adulterous mother
Not the years of suffocating rage,
The insults, slights, lies and cruelties
Carelessly thrown by Agamemnon
Upon their mother, whom they in turn will kill.
If Troy could be entirely razed
Because fair Helen made a choice
And Menelaus' honour, almost lost,
Through war was saved.
Greek women sacrificed,
Trojan women enslaved.
And all this at great Apollo's feet is laid.
Why then my right to vengeance
By Zeus, himself, not be assuaged?
This approach seems to have everybody killed. Some false gods, it must be.... Fate and vengeance........ ummmmmmmm. Very well written. Thanks.
A powerful poem alive with the 'over the top' drama of ancient Greece. You obviously know your Greek history Margery and share it with confidence and flair in this impressive, strongly emotive piece. love, Allie xxxx
Margery, I can imagine this being spoken on stage. Very powerful. I love it! M
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Oh well done...Greek tragedy, that was not a tragedy, but an 'evening the score'! Agamemnon was a fool...to some...no, he wasn't. You have pertrayed the right wrath of this queen admirably! ! ! Do one about that Guinevere! ! ! xxElysabeth