Hector and Scamandrius

by Cody Johnson

Grand Astyanax clings to his mother
Fair Andromache, worthy of compassionate praise
While the broad-chested stranger speaks
Proudly of courage and kleos
Eyes peaking out through a bronze disguise
A monster in many ways, to the child a fright

While tears well up in a mother's eyes
A stranger's hand reaches for the boy
And Astyanax cringes for comfort and protection
Screaming, he hides his eyes in his mother's breast
She strokes his back and pats his leg gently
Willing away the tears of trepidation

And he raises his eyes to see the monster gone
Chased away by his beloved father
Noble Hector, defender of Troy
Whose soft smile and firm hands
Embrace the child at once
And the boy is at peace, unknowing of his fate

In this, their last moment...
As a beaming Hector raises his treasured son
Above his head, upside down, by his ankles
They both smile, and both laugh
Laughter rings in the ears of a doomed father
Yet dies above the walls of Troy...

And when the moment is over
Hector, the proud father, unknowing of his son's fate
Walks away for the last time
And makes way for the bronze-headed, man-killing monster
Warm tears flow and wet the face of a widow
As Astyanax, Lord of the City, smiles sweetly
Already awaiting the return of his kind-hearted father
Hector, breaker of horses

Cody Johnson, 18, will be attending Hendrix College in the fall to pursue a double major in English and Anthropology. He loves playing, listening to and experiencing all kinds of music, reading and of course, writing. He writes a lot of free verse poetry, prose and short fiction. He's always had aspirations to have his work published (haven't we all?), and he humbly welcomes all criticism, praise and general feedback.
E-mail: bombs77@aol.com
Writing interests: Free-Verse Poetry, Short Fiction
I.D. Theory articles: "Hector and Scamandrius"