Classic Poem

1

The crowd of the Greek force
With stacked arms and with troop-ships
Will come to Simois—
The strait, furrowed deep with silver.

They will enter Troy
The sun-god built the porticoes
Kassandra shakes out her hair—
Its gold clasped
With half-opened laurel-shoots—
When the god strikes her
With his breath.

They will stand on Pergamos
They will crowd about the walls.

They will lift their shields,
Riveted with brass,
As they enter Simois
In their painted ships.

Two brothers of Helen are spirits
And dwell apart in the air,
Yet the shieldsmen will take her,
And men, alert with spear-shaft,
Will carry her to the Greek coast.