Only The Brave Love And Justify Poem by Joseph S. Josephides

It’s very hard to judge Timoklea, Alexander, she
buried in a well the Macedon who raped her. She
tells you 'At Chaeronea you have killed Theogenis,
my brother; killing me you glorify violence twice.'

Do assess your strength: chariots, vessels, army.
Assess also her own: soul that vibrates, her pain
is holding a knife to make a scar in your glory,
for she, like David, has her own pair of scales
(flatterers think you’re strong hence you're right) .

Fortunately you had loved the spirit and art,
avoided to burn the house of Pindar in Thebes!
So you may confront Timokleia, as a poem of life.
They say she had an uncle who is hero of Cyprus
The person who betrayed him regretted bitterly
and sends in secret money to the hero’s kids
to clear his guilt. Furies wouldn’t give pity of you.

Though hard, give her justice and so prove that
only the brave love and justify, Great Alexander,
listen to me the humble consciousness of Greek,
throw in the well the rapists and all who flatter you.


© JosephJosephides