- The Kiss Poem by Georgios Venetopoulos

She felt the winging of the crows with the decline of light,
the dither of the leaves that sensed the overrunning horde
as foreign soldiers torched the land, the warfare to ignite,
uncouth and uninvited troops that peace and laws abhorred.

Barbarians invade the land, their darkened deeds unjust
and slaughter the civilians that power do not wield
therefore the maid with dignity, her father's weapons thrusts,
cause it is better oft with pride, for the freedom to be killed.

The daughter of the Dorians, on the embrasureς stands;
for paragons should mortals live, for dignity must fight;
alike a hawk that soars to skies, her soulfulness expands,
imparting to the Gods above, her kiss of vestal light.

Hence, standing, fights upon the nooks, the demons she beheads,
from dawn to dusk the crimson runs upon her armor steels
while little dribs of her own blood, communion she sheds,
partaking in the mizzle drops and substance of the kills.

' I leave my kiss upon the blade, and on the armor wrought,
companions and amulets shall take my soul to fields
where Death awaits, the knightly groom of whom the love I sought,
adjacent to the clanging sound of swords upon the shields. '