TROY

I come to Troy, at times
On the trail of lost wars
Among layers of walls
Some covered with earth, some cleared

There are the remains of a house:
a few pots, a fireplace, two columns
Who sought refuge in Troy ?
Which wars were fought ?

Troy was once rich
Filled with happy men and women
Wells were dug ruthlessly,
Its treasures stolen

Three goddesses competed in front of Paris
Beautiful Aphrodite, mother Hera and virgin Athena
Paris chose Aphrodite
Troy was damned

Paris was a prince, yet he belonged to the mountains, was
reared by shepherds, didn't know how to fight
He fought for Troy
So did Aphrodite, and the river Skamander, quitting its flamingoes
And Hector, Paris's brother, alone in front of the gate
behind which his parents hid

Hector was alone, he would die
Trojans had left Hector alone, they would also die
Aphrodite couldn't fight for long, she would leave
Troy would fall

I came to Troy, I'm digging for my past
there is a gate, beyond which I cannot go
Some flamingoes take off
Aphrodite smiles

We are nobles at birth belonging to the mountains, we choose beauty
Beauty is taken away from us, we die
We can't remember how it was before death
We miss Troy

Everybody has a Troy, fought for beauty
A gate beyond which death is encountered
New cities are founded thereafter, new wars are fought
The death becomes a legend, is passed from mouth to mouth

Everybody has a legend written at Troy

RASHID ERGENER

CLUE

Dip me, at the tip of a toothpick
in poetry
I'll be delicious


RASHID ERGENER