Arete
Rise up, warriors, take your stand at one another's sides,
Your feet set wide and rooted like oaks in the ground.
Then bide your time, biting your lip, for you were born
From the blood of Heracles, unbeatable by mortal men,
And the god of gods has never turned his back on you.
So cast off whatever fears arise at the armored legions
They'll muster before you, hedge yourselves round
With hollow shields, and learn to love death's ink-
Black shadow as much as you love the light of dawn,
So that when the hour comes, the battle lines drawn,
You won't hang back beyond javelin and stone but,
Marshaled into ranks, advance as one to engage your enemy
Hand-to-hand....
- Tyrtaeus (7th c. B.C.)
Sherod Santos
Poetry Daily
03.Nov.04
