Alexander's Men: A Poem

They marched to India

Ask Flash Battery image by Joe Haput CC BY

Alexander’s Men

by Cosmic Poet Simon Pole

I know he sleeps, but let us praise
The man who gilded all our days,
Reflecting on us godly worth:
No greater man has walked the earth.

I know he sweats, but let me say
With him we’ve marched since Philip’s day:
First in Greece, then with him foremost
To battles far beyond our coasts.

I know he sighs, but let me show
What we his camp-mates ever know:
To be as heroes he us called,
And him the bravest one of all.

I know he tosses and he turns,
Break down the wall, let those who yearn
Into the regal chamber troop,
And one last time before him stoop.

I know he stares, and speakest not,
But still his eyes I see burn hot
With pride to see us, men of steel,
Who with him Asia made to kneel.

I know he dies, and far from home,
While we to verge of Ocean roamed.
But here he planted town and field,
Where plough in place of sword we wield.

I know we weep, and him adored
We watch into the ether soar.
But all is Greek, where once he walked,
And always will they of him talk.

from Poems For Ocean: Collected Lyric Poetry