Troy

Farmers work in the sun
growing wheat, sunflowers,
olives, corn—
in fields where Greek ships
once landed and soldiers came
to conquer Troy.

A giant wooden horse
has displaced
King Priam’s throne.
Children climb into it
and laughingly
give V-for-victory signs.

The wind from the Aegean
blows sweetly through summer grasses.
Birds sing in oaks
and cypress pines.
Poppies grow out of crevices
and resemble drops of blood.

Hard to quickly piece together
names and events
from three thousand years ago—
who killed whom for love,
honour, revenge or politics?
To debate the worth of dying for a cause?

The hour spent at Troy
disappears like a fish
diving into the deep.
The bus driver starts the engine.
I take a last look and see
the Dardanelles and Gallipoli in the distance.

Canakkale, 16/6/08