ANDROMACHE'S LAMENT

This is the second part of ASHES OF DREAD in which I follow Hector's personal experience to Achilles' challenge.  Now, meet his wife, Andromache!


ANDROMACHE'S LAMENT

"HECTOR!" rocks her soul, as once again the challenge flies.
It causes blood to stop mid-flow as fear within her heart does grow
amidst her swallowed cries!
Though a princess twice, be told, she fears the coming fire.
This man Achilles, curse his breath! with each shout brings the city's death
and lights her husband's pyre!

Feigning sleep she can but feel her Hector's loving gaze.
And in that gaze once more she sings the naked joy to her he brings:
The joys of countless days!
'Ere her small hand stretches forth the cursed Greek breaks the spell.
Her love of loves now turns away and leaves to face his final day
as tears in four eyes well!

Andromache can scarce contain herself to lie abed.
For she too feels the time is here when all in life which she holds dear
will soon in dust lie dead!
Thus she's lost the moment when dear Hector turns and leaves.
Because she took this moment dear to wrestle thoughts and grapple fear
he's gone, and so she grieves!

"HECTOR!" slams her heart once more as from their bed she springs!
"Achilles!  Curse him!  Damn his soul, as he's cleaved mine to half from whole
and to it winter brings!"
She leans out from the window 'ere she spies the Crystal Stair.
She yearns to call him to her breast, but knows her voice would fail the test.
But Zeus!  He is so fair!

She loves him, but she's always known their love would crash this shoal.
She's known it in her breath and blood, and though it cannot stem the flood,
for HIM she'd sell her soul!
Yet now she can but mark him as he steps up to the gate,
while deep within a trembling starts so violent she's torn in parts
to wither on the slate!

She sees his hand, his warm sweet hand, which has caressed her so,
reach gingerly to ope' the port and take his leave from love too short-
"'Tis Gods who bid him go!"
He turns and glances upward, and their eyes meet one time more.
She does not see him pass the gate; step out to meet his ordained fate-
She's fainted to the floor!

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

The Greeks are in the city!
Deaths' screams on deaf ears fall!
Andromache, the princess,
steps outward from Troy's wall...