Hercules Poem by Joseph S. Josephides

Leaning on his right hand, thinking in depth,
young Hercules felt the first wrinkle on his front
which surprisingly whispered in his ear this phrase:
‘Now that you won the Lion of Nemea, better know
people, as Eurestheas; their hunger is greedy,
they'll ask you to save them from Lernea,
from Stymphalion Birds, Amazon's sorcery;
to run and save them from the Bull of Knossos,
also to protect them from the Deer of Kyrenia,
to release them from the Erimanthian Boar.

They overlook your risk from Diomedes' Horses,
ignore Cerberus and Geryonis cows be in ambush;
they say Atlas has put on your back a light earth,
they don’t care if ungrateful Avgeas is stealing you.

Do such people deserve Athlos from a Virtual Man?
Reward? They’ll burn you dropping vitriol in your shirt
(even if Athena stands tenderly by you, Hermes behind) .

So, before the fatigue defeats you, chiefly your grief,
dare to do the Thirteen Feat that will last for ever,
only proceed to establish in Alte a Doric foundation
for fair games at Olympia for the body and the mind,
let her olive tree sprout onto the holy rock of soul.
Still train the mortals to fight without being afraid
for the virtue; only thus, enemies would admire them.

Go to do your Athlos for all, not only for the few,
for all times not for now, for anywhere not just here.

If you create such Olympia, you will gain Eve for sure
in Olympus. Let them burn you. Your vision is a winner
winning the past of tomorrow and future of yesterday'.



© JosephJosephides