Poetry
proj. #: P__1035__(2010)
(student #: 18573)
Th ePlight of the Great Mother Terra
[total lines: 56]
O, what of this world?
Its rivers defiled
By the stink of man
Its lands torn and bleeding
By the hand of humanity
O, what of this world?
I have lived so long
Only giving
Never receiving from
The ones I cherish
O, what of this world?
Black smoke pours
From brick towers
Rising like a dark demon
Not of my making
O, what of this world?
The people plow
The fertile land
Reaping only the best
And leaving everything barren
Th ePlight of the Great Mother Terra -- P__1035__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1035__(2010)
(student #: 18573)
O, what of this world?
Through the ages
The gods have sat on their
High thrones growing fat and
Lazy off of my labors
O, what of this world?
So long I have carried
This enormous burden
Longing, like Atlas,
Only to be free
O, what of this world?
I bleed, wearied and
Torn into pieces
Wondering when everything
Will finally stop
O, what of this world?
Who will be my savior?
Who will bother to care?
What will I become?
What of this world?
Th ePlight of the Great Mother Terra -- P__1035__(2010)
page: -- 2
Poetry
proj. #: P__1035__(2010)
(student #: 18573)
O, what of me?
Th ePlight of the Great Mother Terra -- P__1035__(2010)
page: -- 3
Poetry
proj. #: P__1045__(2010)
(student #: 17449)
Parcae
[total lines: 13]
To each person she gives a thread,
a single string by which to cling
to a tenuous strand of life.
A sister takes each little string
and weaves a fate, infallible,
a cloth of rainbow colors.
Atropos has the final word
being bravest of the three.
Your death belongs to her alone
a thread to cut quite easily.
Parcae -- P__1045__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1052__(2010)
(student #: 18202)
Cras Credemus, Hodie Nihil Est
[total lines: 48]
So as i walk into the bitterest night
Sunlight surrounds me as take flight
The Mark of Cain can be seen within
For im the man who has committed sin
Sold my soul i have to a devil who scorns
With jagged teeth and two long horns
I live in his control and endure his rage
and leave my past and bow at his stage
Now i must ask you to answer my plea
Will you join me on this epic odyssey
Or shall I venture now off all alone
Knowing that ill die away from home
Now the time has come that we part ways
I venture off to war while you sit and stay
Give me one last kiss for i am yours no longer
My beliefs leave my mind and begin to wander
Mars controls now what is my own destiny
His waging wars created by bitter jealousy
May the three blinded fates wish me so well
That I return to you from this frozen hell
Winter breaks out and not much can be seen
I begin to picture that ever lasting scene
Cras Credemus, Hodie Nihil Est -- P__1052__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1052__(2010)
(student #: 18202)
of baby Hercules in his cradle of wood
being approached by two serpents who stood
Grabbed them he did with his hands of might
Strangled them senseless they put up no fight
Ipicles lay frightened crying near by
yet Hercules mighty and strong survive
I fall out of my spell and get ready to go
If I end tonight there's no way you will know
The man can be seen fifty feet ahead
My guns hoisted up in hopes he be dead
Men who die of to Hades they dwell
All men are doomed to heaven or hell
One question remains to be asked
will i believe in what seems to be trash
For believing would give me faith
that seeing you again isnt a waste
Igitur cras credemus, hodie nihlil est
Mane nos laeta sumus, nocte ego moestum es
Cras Credemus, Hodie Nihil Est -- P__1052__(2010)
page: -- 2
Poetry
proj. #: P__1073__(2010)
(student #: 17438)
Vinetula
[total lines: 48]
I walk through my vineyard
it is the third hour
the grapes in coat of dew
soon to be wine
thirty denarii for each sextarius
I take no less
I only sell what is aged to perfection
sometimes I keep the wine for myself and my clients to enjoy
I only drink what is best.
I walk through my vineyard
it is the fifth hour
the olives in contrast to the late morning's sun
soon to be delicious oil
Vinetula -- P__1073__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1073__(2010)
(student #: 17438)
fourty denarii for each sextarius
I take no less
I only sell what is fresh
sometimes I keep the oil for myself and my clients to enjoy
I only eat what is best.
I recline on a couch
it is the fourteenth hour
my clients and I laugh in the merryment of a tale and feast
bread in my hand
with it my results make an exquisite combination
it is only the best.
Vinetula -- P__1073__(2010)
page: -- 2
Poetry
proj. #: P__1080__(2010)
(student #: 14985)
Phaethon's Ride
[total lines: 34]
Phaethon was a happy youth,
until one day he was challenged.
So he set out to discover the truth,
Far and wide he scavenged.
He traveled to his father's palace,
To discover he was Helios's son.
Helios didn't intend malice,
But the battle was hardly won.
For he was foolish in doing so,
As he swore on the river Styx.
Little did Helios know,
Phaethon's wish to fly, he couldn't fix.
So reluctantly he set him out,
To drive his chariot alone.
Across the sky was his route,
But this decision he would bemoan.
All the day Phaethon fought,
His father's horses were wild.
He flew close to the earth, and it was too hot
Far away, and the temperatures too mild
Finally, Zeus struck him from his quiver,
He could not bear the destruction.
So Phaethon fell into a river,
Phaethon's Ride -- P__1080__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1080__(2010)
(student #: 14985)
The son of Helios forever done.
His sisters were no longer carefree,
Their sorrow and tears were so great.
They each took the form of a poplar tree,
And shed tears of amber for brother's fate.
Phaethon's Ride -- P__1080__(2010)
page: -- 2
Poetry
proj. #: P__1092__(2010)
(student #: 16667)
Classical Limericks
[total lines: 24]
Odysseus
There once was a man named Odysseus
Quite surely more famous than Theseus
He sailed round all land
His adventures – not bland
But still he came home in one piecius
Cyclops
The Cyclops he had but one eye
His father, a god that can't die
The man that did blind him
He just couldn't find him
While his father raged up in the sky
Circe
There once was a goddess named Circe
Who lived on and Island oversea
She turned men into swine
With her witch powers divine
But Odysseus was protected from she.
Classical Limericks -- P__1092__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1095__(2010)
(student #: 18517)
The End of Phaëthon
[total lines: 38]
The End of Phaëthon
The sun Helios rode his chariot through
And through the mighty sky he flew
The radiant light lit up the world
As the sun flew and clouds whirled
He flew through the skies like fire
And his son Phaëthon had a great desire
To fly like his father all day
And hopefully every day
After the day was done and Helios in the west
His five daughters, the Heliades let his horses rest
In the night he took his golden boat
To his palace in the east and he did float
Phaëthon a mortal son
Begged his father, the sun
To grant his wish he had
To drive the chariot as a lad
Helios gave in because he swore on Styx
And knew his chariot would have to be fixed
As the unskillful hands of Phaëthon held the reins
The horses veered off the path and Phaëthon almost lost his brains
He grew so dizzy he dropped them and flew
The End of Phaëthon -- P__1095__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1095__(2010)
(student #: 18517)
From the chariot and the sky he fell through
On mount Olympus Zeus struck the chariot with a bolt
And the electricity was a ton of volts
Phaëthon in the river and sisters around
They stood still all trying to calm down
Hephaestus worked all night to fix
The chariot for the next day with many tricks
Helios grieved over his son
And to drive it again, he would be the only one
The End of Phaëthon -- P__1095__(2010)
page: -- 2
Poetry
proj. #: P__1098__(2010)
(student #: 18561)
Et, tu Brute?
[total lines: 22]
Et, tu Brute?
Oh what dismay
I thought you were on my side
About that, you lied
I thought we were friends
Partners, I thought, until the end
But the end has come
To these wounds I must succumb
Now you're on their side
And I've nearly died
It makes me cry and moan
To know I am alone
My friend don't you see
They want you to kill me
You are my friend
And you see within
They just want me through
And so they chose you
I hoped this wouldn't happen
Well, I ask you again
Hopefully, you'll say ‘nay'
Et, tu Brute?
Et, tu Brute? -- P__1098__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1100__(2010)
(student #: 18639)
The Fall of Hector
[total lines: 49]
Priam watched his son's last stand
In his rival's old armor
Hector's death was near at hand
He would surely become a martyr
When Hector saw Achilles
This did not bring him joy
Priam begged his son once more
To return to the walls of Troy
Hector ignored his father's warning
And fled this mortal man
While Andromache watched mourning
Athena formed a plan
Athena had disguised herself
As Hector's faithful friend
She convinced him it was time
That this might be Achilles' end
Hector agreed to stay and fight
But then Athena vanished
Hector quickly realized
He was now abandoned
The Fall of Hector -- P__1100__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1100__(2010)
(student #: 18639)
He knew the gods tricked him
His future was now dim
And as he realized this
Achilles stabbed him
He begged for a proper burial
But Achilles showed no pity
Hector was stripped of his armor
And dragged around the city
While his body lay desecrated
Achilles had surely won
His father, mother, wife, and Troy
Had lost a faithful son
The Fall of Hector -- P__1100__(2010)
page: -- 2
Poetry
proj. #: P__1103__(2010)
(student #: 16923)
Minotaur Tragedy
[total lines: 18]
Minotaur Tragedy
I see a long corridor it's damp and rancid
I hear echoes of voices in the air that's frigid
I smell open air then it's whisked away
By rotten breath, my own decay
I see foreigners with rags for clothes.
They stumble, roll, shuffle as they go
I hear one push in front of the rest
Who dares come so close to my nest?
Is he a friend? A companion for me?
NO! I hear him shout for the others to flee!
I shake my shaggy, bearded head
I roar with a voice for the labyrinth's dead!
I feel the jagged slice of a pointed blade
I see a monster-I'm so afraid!
That monster, Theseus, slaughtered me!
An end to my Minotaur tragedy.
Minotaur Tragedy -- P__1103__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1104__(2010)
(student #: 16926)
Persephone's Story
[total lines: 45]
Young Persephone was merely a teen,
But she was the best sight a man could have seen,
She was having a good time with her friend,
Just before her Earth life came to an end.
She was whisked away by Hades,
And Persephone became his main lady.
Down to the underworld she went,
Without her say or consent.
Her mother, Demeter, lived above,
And had shown Persephone much love.
She could not find her daughter and became distraught.
"I'll go to the child's father for help!" She thought.
King of the Gods, Zeus, was the child's father,
And Hades' brother,
They all tried to make a compromise.
But Hades was too wise.
The king of the Underworld refused
Zeus and Demeter were confused.
He said she had eaten the food of the dead,
A pomegranate, which was blood red.
They came to a resolution,
6 months in each place was the solution.
Persephone's Story -- P__1104__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1104__(2010)
(student #: 16926)
This pleased both sides
And Persephone became Hades' bride.
The summer months were when Persephone is living on Earth,
And Demeter brings all her healing powers forth.
The trees and plants grow.
The leaves and petals seem to glow.
But when Persephone descends down,
Demeter starts the countdown.
All the plants and living things die,
Demeter does nothing, just trying to get by.
These changes are known as the seasons.
Demeter's actions are the reason.
Because of her daughter's absence,
Demeter affects the Earth's appearance.
Persephone's Story -- P__1104__(2010)
page: -- 2
Poetry
proj. #: P__1107__(2010)
(student #: 15448)
We Cannot Avoid
[total lines: 19]
Infamous three fates
Important to life and death
And the space between
The first creates you
She crafts with a smile on
She brings happiness
The second fate measures
Your lifespan depends on her
He decides the length
The third and last fate
Ends your life with her scissors
Makes the final cut
The fates are all real
They create, measure, and kill
Important sisters
We Cannot Avoid -- P__1107__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1108__(2010)
(student #: 17936)
Hannibals Legacy at War
[total lines: 20]
There once was a man known as Hannibal.
And to his men he gave a great call,
"Our time has come, now Rome must fall!"
And so the war began.
Hannibal's tactic was hard to believe.
He had the war elephants ready to leave,
But putting elephants through mountains was hard to achieve,
But Hannibal used that plan.
Hannibal started the Second Punic War
He got his land and so much more,
But Rome attacked him at his core
They knew it would make him come.
Hannibal came for the Battle of Zama,
Planning to make Scipio run to his mama
But Hannibal, in the end, had the most trauma
And Scipio fought and won.
Hannibals Legacy at War -- P__1108__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1112__(2010)
(student #: 16689)
The Contest of the Bow
[total lines: 54]
The suitors, in front of them, a glorious feast,
Each eyeing the food like it was prey to a beast,
And low and behold, came Penelope, so bold,
Announcing what tidings she liked least.
"Today, one of you will take Odysseus' throne;
The time has come for my choice to be known.
Odysseus is gone, and the throne shall be won
By he who can string this bow on his own."
The suitors broke out in merry laughter.
How simple it'd be to take the throne they were after!
Penelope had not finished, and hopes soon diminished
When Penelope told them a puzzling baffler.
"Ha! Foolish suitors, you must complete more than that.
For making me laugh, on your backs, I shall pat;
For your arrow must fly through 12 axes' eyes
And then, as Ithaca's king, we shall chat."
Quickly, they all assembled into a long queue
Where many men tried, and many failed, too.
After all had tried and had lost Penelope as their bride,
A beggar desired to put the arrow through.
The suitors laughed and mocked the tramp.
"Oh, let ‘em try. Maybe he'll be the champ!"
The Contest of the Bow -- P__1112__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1112__(2010)
(student #: 16689)
Laughing at the idea of him winning the mortal Cytherea,
They cheered like immature boys in a camp.
With grace and ease, the man strung the bow
And lifted it up, an arrow ready to go.
He let it fly; it soared through each axe's eye!
This beggar did it; the suitors failed miserably, though.
Was this Odysseus? the suitors frantically thought.
Was he not dead? Was he not caught?
The carnage began according to plan
And, with his son and his slave, they valiantly fought.
After all suitors had been brutally killed
Penelope still doubted that her prayers were fulfilled.
She asked the man about the bed he began
And with his answer, she was ultimately thrilled.
She asked, "May I ask you to sleep in another room?
Our marriage bed was removed last June."
"You moved the bed attached to the head
Of that tree connected to it?" he mightily boomed.
Of course, she didn't; it was just a test.
She wanted to believe it was Odysseus, not just some guest.
They then made amends with the suitors' families and friends
And lived their lives to the fullest and all the best.
The Contest of the Bow -- P__1112__(2010)
page: -- 2
Poetry
proj. #: P__1114__(2010)
(student #: 15781)
The Labors of Hercules
[total lines: 61]
The gods and goddesses are all well known but one was quite peculiar
For he was the son of not just Zeus, but Alcmena who was of mortal blood
When Hera heard of this deceit she made a vow to herself
That Hercules would suffer from a wrath that was far worse than a disastrous flood
The days wound down and Hercules found himself with a wife and family
But Hera's pride would not give in and she couldn't stand to behold his glory
So with a quick and easy trick she became the mastermind behind a plan
Which became known to people around the land as Hercules' story
The simple deception became the reason for the guilt and remorse of the man
Who soon was to pay a debt to Eurystheus, the king of Tiryns and Mycenae
These twelve labors start with the Neman Lion, a beast which couldn't be stopped by a bare bow
But with Hercules' skill and strength the animal was throttled like a lock and key
The second is known as the challenge of the Hydra
And with the help of Iolaus, the many heads were cut and burned, not to appear again
The third in contrast was not a beast; in fact it was the sacred hind of Artemis
For which he successfully brought back to please the population of men
The Erymanthian boar followed, which became a challenge from the start
As the task proceeded, Hercules found himself wrestling a centaur known as Pholus
Which occurred due to an ignorant mistake and the presence of sacred centaur wine
But Hercules withstood the drama and successfully returned with the boar, half way up his shoulder,
an undeniable success
The Augean Stables were the fifth, but this was not counted
The Labors of Hercules -- P__1114__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1114__(2010)
(student #: 15781)
For Hercules requested a fraction of the flock that were in the sultry stables
The air born creatures that were known for their terrorizing behavior were next
The Symphalian birds were shot and killed in order to enable fresh food to be provided to the tables
Hercules' seventh labor consisted of the Cretan Bull
A monster that was half-man, half- bull and which Hercules shipped off to the mainland
The man eating horses known as the Mares of Diomedes served as the eighth task
Which were eventually calmed by Hercules' forcible ingestion of their master on command
The Amazon tribe and their leader Hippolyte were known for their skill in war
Which was why Eurythseus ordered Hercules to retrieve the belt which had been given by Ares
This is where Hera embellished her plan, disguised as a warrior and spreading rumors about the
victor
War and skirmishing broke loose but Hercules claimed the belt with minimal loss of milites
The tenth labor was with the cattle of Geryon
For which resulted in the splitting of mountains and the given name of Italy
The Apples of Hesperides served to be the eleventh labor, with the help of Atlas
Hercules made a deal which was soon neglected, but with a simple trick, Atlas was back holding the
sky pettily
The last labor was to be impossible since no known mortal had made it to the underworld and back
But Hercules denied all odds and retrieved Cerberus from Hades' clutch
This became the last of Hercules' tasks, which was not perceived by Hera
Who had foreboded that even the son of Zeus couldn't complete the labors as such
Hercules soon became a god, one that people would remember
And little children look up to him for his undying strength and protection
A man who couldn't be defeated by Hera's cruel and undermining tricks
The Labors of Hercules -- P__1114__(2010)
page: -- 2
Poetry
proj. #: P__1114__(2010)
(student #: 15781)
Hercules is a god that became known as an exception
The Labors of Hercules -- P__1114__(2010)
page: -- 3
Poetry
proj. #: P__1115__(2010)
(student #: 15743)
The Hydras Plea
[total lines: 21]
So many thoughts...
PIT PAT PIT PAT
Too many minds...
WHOOSH WHOOSH
Make them stop...
SWISH
Make them stop...
RRRR
stop!!
SCREEAAH!!!
Why won't they go away?!
WHY DO YOU WANT US TO LEAVE?!
Where can I find some peace?!
WHERE IS THE GLORY IN THAT?!
When will they let it just end?!
endEND end ENDEND ENDend
Great stone, please help me...
WHUMP
Ahhh, sweet end
The Hydras Plea -- P__1115__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1125__(2010)
(student #: 18257)
Rampage
[total lines: 35]
The Sun blazed overhead,
The chariot careening,
For the great and majestic horses had felt a weaker hand,
They ascended steeply, ascended too high
Which put ice caps on mountains,
And then like an eagle, an eagle of death,
The Sun swooped low and set fire to volcanoes,
The villages were razed by a flood of fire,
As the Sun burnt its way over the land,
And the water dried up,
And the crops withered,
And Neptune, the Great Neptune grew restless,
Turning Africa into desert,
Turning loam into sand,
Turning the land barren, turning it inhospitable,
The mortals pleaded to Jupiter,
And Jupiter heard their pleas,
And struck the mortal Phaeton down,
Phaeton who lost control, lost control of the Sun,
Phaeton, who made a foolish wish before, a wish to his father Helios,
A wish to drive the chariot,
And ended his life in the act,
Phaeton plunged downwards,
Plummeting,
Tumbling,
Dropping,
The mortal who made a foolish wish, Phaeton who made a foolish wish,
Rampage -- P__1125__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1125__(2010)
(student #: 18257)
Fell into the river, into the river Eridanos,
And lay there limp and unmoving,
And Helios mourned in grief
And forgot his duties as the Sun god,
And the world went dark, plunged into an eternal night
Until a new sun god took over his duties.
Rampage -- P__1125__(2010)
page: -- 2
Poetry
proj. #: P__1126__(2010)
(student #: 18553)
The Escape of the Cyclops Continued
[total lines: 16]
The Escape of the Cyclops Continued
Once "Nobody" got on his ship and sailed away,
Polyphemus went to say,
"My brothers, my good cheese and wine this man did take,
then betrayed me, stabbing my eye with a hot stake."
His brothers said in return,
"Polyphemus, name the man who did this?" in concern.
"His name is Odysseus, and with him was his dumb crew."
They all agreed this just wouldn't do.
The brothers of Polyphemus sent him to go to tell their father.
"My son," said the Lord Poseidon, "we'll five him great bother."
Odysseus would get his punishment,
But live through Athena's encouragement,
to see the shores of his home land,
and once again hold Penelope's hand.
The Escape of the Cyclops Continued -- P__1126__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1129__(2010)
(student #: 15516)
3 Haiku's about Hercules
[total lines: 11]
Hercules, victim
Life made off of Hera's rage
His deeds were in vain
Hercules, strong man
Did all of these labors
To satisfy Hera
Hercules, demi-god
Made immortal, a hero
Heavenly prowess
3 Haiku's about Hercules -- P__1129__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1130__(2010)
(student #: 16986)
Sounds of the Races
[total lines: 11]
I walk up the steep steps, hearing the screams
My sandals click-clack on the hard brick
Loud voices and laughter fill the air
I hear the distant neighs of the horses
So powerful and yet so ready
Their muscular legs pound the ground, ready to win
The colors fly by as they race
Tunics are flapping in the stands
Galloping hooves and sharp cracks of the whip
These are the sounds of the races
Sounds of the Races -- P__1130__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1137__(2010)
(student #: 17954)
Keeping This Alive
[total lines: 40]
The beginning is so promising, full of interest and curiosity
Such is our story of the very first day
Excited, thinking this class will be an easy A+
Until, that is, the teacher proclaims, "Salve!"
Instantly immersed in a new culture
That we thought was different and strange
But as the days seemed to drag by
Things quickly began to change
Like a jigsaw puzzle words were flipped and turned
To fit just right, they have a specific place
And when you take a step back from it all
You see the beauty hidden in these words interlaced
And as this puzzle, a mosaic, became more and more complex
Sometimes you just want to throw up your hand
But pushing through all this work doesn't go unnoticed
The true reward is the feeling when you finally understand
Fallowing along in almost a secret code
This is your key to unlocking the past
And as the words trickle and flow past your own lips
You see this culture's beauty at last
Some may call this language, this world, dead
But they are just blind
To this whole world around us
Latin is still alive you will find
Whether you walk down the streets of Rome
Or simply open your own average books
You will see Latin at its finest
Keeping This Alive -- P__1137__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1137__(2010)
(student #: 17954)
Not everything is as it looks
Others may choose to take Spanish or French
But we chose not to fallow the crowd
"Either I shall find a way or I shall make my own,"
Hannibal declared loud and proud
So we continue on learning
And making our own way
Soaking in all this wonder
But amidst the challenges, we find time to play
We genuinely enjoy our time in this foreign world
And this dead language we can revive
Yet, Latin already flourishes amongst us you see
We are the ones who keep it alive
Keeping This Alive -- P__1137__(2010)
page: -- 2
Poetry
proj. #: P__1140__(2010)
(student #: 16975)
Tunic
[total lines: 49]
I am a tunic for a child,
living day after day in Tertius's closet,
next to the toga praetextas.
I knew that my friend, a toga praetexta,
wasn't going to be worn much longer;
didn't know it would happen so soon.
One day I was sitting in my room,
and all of a sudden my friend got taken right out of the closet!
I didn't know where he was going,
but luckily Tertius left the closet door open,
so I could peek out.
As I looked I saw all the things I've seen before,
but never off a body.
It was so open, so broad.
Before now all I had seen was a blur,
as Tertius ran with me on, to go outside.
Now I saw the bed, a desk, and even a window.
I then remembered that the reason I was looking
was to see where my old friend was going
because he hadn't been put on.
Tunic -- P__1140__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1140__(2010)
(student #: 16975)
I saw Tertius carrying him over,
and drop him somewhere.
I didn't know what it was until
I was put on - Tertius walked to the side of the
bed where my friend had been dropped.
I saw him lying there with a straight face,
not even realizing.
A bin that said "burning!"
I couldn't believe that my friend,
my kind friend,
would be put in a fire.
I then thought,
"What is going to happen to me?"
I'll probably know when I get to
that place that my friend had once been here and
has since left to another place.
I can only hope that he is safe
and having a good life now that he left my
home.
Tunic -- P__1140__(2010)
page: -- 2
Poetry
proj. #: P__1142__(2010)
(student #: 18516)
The labors of Hercules
[total lines: 58]
Paste or type your entry here.
I come here today to tell you the story
Of a great Greek hero in all of his glory.
A man by the name of Hercules
Who performed 12 tasks with the greatest of ease.
Hercules was born to Alcmena and Zeus
For Hera had no control, she let Zeus hang loose.
In her great anger Hera came to decide
That must go, or she would lose all her pride.
She sent two snakes to kill the little boy,
But Hercules did not fear them, he met them with joy
He strangled those snakes and hurt them so bad
That even cruel Hera looked down and felt sad.
But Hera was smart, cruel and clever
And decided to change Hercules forever.
She sent him a rage so he killed his family
And purification is what he needs badly.
Now the king gave him 12 mighty tasks to do
By which everyone found that his strength was true.
Slaying the lion is where we begin
For Hercules was ordered to bring back its skin.
Then, the Lernean Hydra caused people to yelp
Hercules killed it, but he had a little help.
Because his cousin helped with the kill
The labor was nullified, it was worth nil.
Then he captured the hind dear to Artemis
The labors of Hercules -- P__1142__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1142__(2010)
(student #: 18516)
Running into her was one thing even the Mighty Hercules didn't wish.
For Labor number four, our hero killed the Erymanthian Boar.
For Labor number five, Hercules really took a dive.
He cleaned some stables with great amounts of dung
But since he got paid, it didn't even count as one.
Labor number six was against the birds of Stymphalus
They were a nuisance that would anger all of us.
For task number seven, he had the Cretan Bull to slay
But Hercules over powered it and shipped it away.
Getting rid of flesh eating horses was task number eight
But Hercules defeated them, they weren't so great.
For Labor number nine Hercules stole Hippollyte's belt
The amazons made sure their wrath was felt.
Labor number ten was to take all Geryon's cattle
His watchdog attacked, but Hercules won the battle.
To perform Labor eleven, he went for some apples,
To get the job done with the whole world he grappled.
Last but not least, Labor number 12, to bring Cerberus to
Mount Olympus, a place deemed too special for me or for you
He choked that dog and made it look like a puppy,
In Harry Potter he's known as Fluffy.
That is the end of my epic tale,
About a great man whose skills never failed.
The labors of Hercules -- P__1142__(2010)
page: -- 2
Poetry
proj. #: P__1142__(2010)
(student #: 18516)
The labors of Hercules -- P__1142__(2010)
page: -- 3
Poetry
proj. #: P__1144__(2010)
(student #: 15437)
Ode to Odysseus
[total lines: 48]
Odysseus went off to fight a war
He didn't know it would change his life
And that it would be twenty long more years
Before he came home to his son and wife
He went on a long journey to return home
He passed the strangest things along the way
Like locust-eaters, sirens, and whirlpools
And Athena that helped him night and day
Odysseus met many challenges on his way
Not all he met were helpful and kind
Like the one-eyed Cyclops Polyphemus
Who captured Odysseus and ended up blind
Odysseus wanted to hear the sirens' song
His men tied him up and stuffed their ears
He heard their song and still survived
To journey home for many more long years
Odysseus stayed with Circe for a year
The witch-goddess who turned his men into swine
After he resisted her magic using the moly
And she fed them cheese and wine
Calypso fell in love with Odysseus
When he washed up on her shore
She made him stay as her lover for seven long years
Ode to Odysseus -- P__1144__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1144__(2010)
(student #: 15437)
Before she let him go back to his journey once more
After many dangers Odysseus finally returned home
But Ithaca was not ready to welcome him back
So Athena disguised him as a beggar
And he made his way to his swineherd's shack
It was there that he reunited with his son
He and Telemachus hatched a plan
To get rid of Penelope's many suitors
And make his reappearance like only Odysseus can
Penelope held a contest for the suitors
To see which one would have her hand
Odysseus won this shooting contest
For he was the strongest throughout all the land
Odysseus and Telemachus killed the remaining suitors
And he revealed himself to Penelope
She was slightly skeptical of him, but he proved himself
By knowing their bed was made from a rooted olive tree
Ode to Odysseus -- P__1144__(2010)
page: -- 2
Poetry
proj. #: P__1149__(2010)
(student #: 17951)
Decimation
[total lines: 30]
"Unus...duo...tres..."
Trepidation punctured his iron shell
His soul buckled under the shadows of compunction
A Roman heart shattered in the abyss
"Quattor...quinque...sex..."
The remnants of a bellicose honor blew in the Mare Nostrum winds
They showered his past
They echoed in the future
"Septem...octo...novem..."
He could hear naught but his own heart
Steady with rhythmic steps
Beads of ruddy sweat melted through his facade
He inhaled
He exhaled
Decimation -- P__1149__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1149__(2010)
(student #: 17951)
His breath was stagnant
"Decem."
Decimation -- P__1149__(2010)
page: -- 2
Poetry
proj. #: P__1153__(2010)
(student #: 15478)
I the City of Rome
[total lines: 19]
The day dawned bright in the eastern sky
Fifty – thousand spectators made their way through the streets
Men, women, and children heading to watch men die
Through seventy-six entrances to the gigantic arena
A parade of gladiators past the emperor's seat
"We who are about to die salute you!", was their cry
The wild beasts were the first to brawl
Man against animal brought many to fall
A blood – thirsty roar ran through the crowd
The long awaited gladiators were on the scene
Criminals, slaves, and prisoners of war
Professionals, too, fought for honor and fame
A symbol of the emperor's power
The reason for these grotesque exhibitions
The people saw it all as entertainment
Dusk brought the gory day to a close
I the City of Rome -- P__1153__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1156__(2010)
(student #: 15485)
Odysseus and the Sirens
[total lines: 20]
Odysseus a Roman man
Was on his boat with his clan
When on his way home
Back to his wife in Rome
He had decided to be brave
And not be forced into the wave
This man wants to try this dare
And not give in to the sirens air
The sirens who would sing
And lure the boats into the ring
They would crash upon the rocks
And drown underneath the ocean rocks.
So he plugged his crew's ears
And tried to hold in his tears
As he got tied to the mast
He might be the first and last
To listen to them sing
And not get lured by the sirens' screams.
Odysseus and the Sirens -- P__1156__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1158__(2010)
(student #: 15732)
The Legend Retold
[total lines: 11]
As the Greek stories are told,
The legends never do get old.
First Zeus, the almighty, and God of the sky,
Who he finds one of his sons, the most charming of the guys.
Athena, the wise one, the smartest of them all,
She can even beat lame Hephaestus, even through a fire so tall.
Hermes, the business man, the speedy one,
But Hera, the wife of Zeus, who let all the joy fall.
Though there are many other families that others do call,
I believe this family is the best family of all.
And till this very day, the Greek stories are told,
Yet, not a single legend gets old, gets old.
The Legend Retold
-- P__1158__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1160__(2010)
(student #: 16696)
Silence
[total lines: 22]
Silence
Silence.
It was night, all was dark.
As a wine bottle falls from a drunken Trojan man,
A Greek warrior lowers a rope out of the belly of the Greek-made, wooden beast.
Silence.
The drunken men and women lying on the ground will soon be awakened by a horror named death.
The men from the under belly of their wooden beast, climb down from their rope.
Silence.
Swiftly, they run to the gates.
Opening the massive gates to this city, named Troy, will be the very end of this great war.
Silence.
Gates open, death begins.
Slashing, bashing, cutting, clawing.
Death,
Yelling,
Shrieking,
And the end of a great empire.
But, at the end of this day,
There will be"
Silence.
Silence -- P__1160__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1166__(2010)
(student #: 18544)
The Epic of Heracles
[total lines: 14]
Heracles, strong and mighty is a heroic, brave, man
Often too powerful, he kills anyone he can
The swing of his club, as if breezing through air
No surprise he is the strongest one of Zeus' heir
Twelve tasks he completed with stride
Most only took one year and glided on by
The brutal Hera, her intentions quite spiteful
Though Heracles, winning more glory continued being delightful
Taking his place in the Olympian palace
No more jobs to perform, not even the foulest
Battling against Gaea's children, so ugly with laughter
Heracles relaxed and lived happily ever after!
The Epic of Heracles -- P__1166__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1167__(2010)
(student #: 14981)
(title)
[total lines: 70]
The sun Helios rode his chariot through
And through the mighty sky he flew
The radiant light lit up the world
As the sun flew and clouds whirled
He flew through the skies like fire
And his son Phaëthon had a great desire
To fly like his father all day
And hopefully every day
After the day was done and Helios in the west
His five daughters, the Heliades let his horses rest
In the night he took his golden boat
To his palace in the east and he did float
(title) -- P__1167__(2010)
page: -- 1
Poetry
proj. #: P__1167__(2010)
(student #: 14981)
Phaëthon a mortal son
Begged his father, the sun
To grant his wish he had
To drive the chariot as a lad
Helios gave in because he swore on Styx
And knew his chariot would have to be fixed
As the unskillful hands of Phaëthon held the reins
The horses veered off the path and Phaëthon almost lost his brains
He grew so dizzy he dropped them and flew
From the chariot and the sky he fell through
On mount Olympus Zeus struck the chariot with a bolt
(title) -- P__1167__(2010)
page: -- 2
Poetry
proj. #: P__1167__(2010)
(student #: 14981)
And the electricity was a ton of volts
Phaëthon in the river and sisters around
They stood still all trying to calm down
Hephaestus worked all night to fix
The chariot for the next day with many tricks
Helios grieved over his son
And to drive it again, he would be the only one
(title) -- P__1167__(2010)
page: -- 3