Hero and Leander by Susan E. Birch

By Raja's Insight on March 26, 2019 • ( 0 )

As destiny ruled and Fate allows

From far off Abydus you came

To Sestus Tower, and to my shame,

For you I broke my gods-sworn vows.

In stealth and darkness of the night

You swim between the land and tower.

There, within my maidens bower

we meet and love ’til dawn’s first light.

So with eyes set firmly up above

I climb these stairs so cold and damp,

Making haste to light the lamp

Ere I die for want of love.

There! A light your eyes to greet

And draw you ‘cross the Hellespont.

To satisfy our deepest want

In wicked darkness and deceit.

Where is Leander, fair and brave?

Behold the lamp! Betrayer storm!

You quench the flame that brings him home.

Condemn him to a watery grave.

Oh cruel fate! Oh bitter sight!

These sweet cold lips no more to kiss.

Never again to feel the bliss

Of heart and breath and sweet soul flight.

What bitter cup, what piercing dart,

What irony Oh Gods above!

A priestess of the Goddess of love

Dies this day of a broken heart.

Excerpt from the book Ancient Whispers

$11.95 Plus Shipping ~ Now Available At CTU Publishing Group and Amazon.com

About the Author

When Susan was eleven years old a teacher, knowing her love of Literature and History, gave her a copy of The Complete Works of Shakespeare and a poetry anthology both of which changed her life. When she opened the book of poetry it naturally fell open at a page on which was a poem called ‘The Cloths of Heaven’ by W.B. Yeats. She read it and was stunned as it was the first time words had actually drawn a picture in her mind. Later, reading the book of Shakespeare, she found Sonnet 18’ and found the answer to why poets wrote poetry. From then on she was an avid reader of poetry and fell in love with the classical poets.

Visit Susan’s Author Page At: www.ctupublishinggroup.com/susan-e.-birch-.html