A Poet At The Parthenon - No.1 400 Bce Poem by Daniel Brick

Glaucus, a young poet, recently published, ascends the Acropolis
to seek Athena's wisdom. As he approaches the Parthenon, he prays
to Aphrodite.

Golden Aphrodite, Goddess,
you gave me a companion
for my bright days and
deep nights, the woman
who matched my dreams
in her reality. She lifted me
to the sky's realm, where we
breathed the same air that
that nourishes the Olympians.
And then I fell from those starry
heights, alone I fell past planets,
past starlight, past morning and
noon, into the night realm where
hope is blind to beauty, desires
turn to dust, trust vanishes.
This is not the Night of Lovers.
She left me for another man, rich
and sophisticated, everyone's
friend - mine included: he published
my first book of poems. He laughed,
amused at my grief, Glaucus, my boy,
my poet, you're young. I need her more
because I'm old. You've written your
Love Poems, go and write your Grief
Poems, and I'll publish them too.
Goddess, am I not a broken shell,
a brick dislodged from its wall,
a piece of fruit rotting on the wayside?
Have I not sacrificed to you, seeking
no glory but only your glory? Have I not
praised you in the marketplace, in the theater,
on the hillside and the shoreline? I prayed.
I danced. I cried out in pain or joy. It was
not I, but always and everywhere, it was YOU,
Goddess of Sea-Foam, Goddess of lyre and
love song. Hear me, even now I raise my voice,
cracked, its beauty of tone roughened by crying.
Goddess of the Best Gift, Goddess of the heart's
highest hope, hear me as we near the Parthenon...
I have not climbed to this Temple of Athena
to complain about you, to spread false rumors
about you in the hearing of the other gods.
It is to praise you and thank you, in their presence,
that I stand upon this sacred ground. I prayed
to you for love and you gave me a lover: she proved
false but You proved faithful. I implored you
for beauty in my life, and this beauty dazzles me
everywhere. And it spills forth so abundantly,
others, even a false friend and a faithless lover,
can enjoy it. Aphrodite, I ask for only one gift:
Make me worthy of the next lover who will cross
my path, because in my heart I know it is your desire too.