Marvel at the great Achilles

 I wrote a short poem summarizing the story of Achilles. His story is one of my favorites, because as much as it is about him, it is also about the people around him and his effect on them. In a time of isolation when it is sometimes difficult to tell if we're having an effect on anyone, his story reminds us of the influence each of us has on those closest to us, and how easy it is to forget that until it's too late. I invite you to ponder that as you read.

Marvel at the great Achilles.

Glory brought him to war even at the cost of his life.

When that glory was taken from him in front of all, he chose to suspend living and call down curses on his brethren until it was returned to him.

His pride and rage grew in equal measure to the casualties of the Greek army.

When his lover Patroclus begged him to come and fight, to win the glory he so deserved,

Achilles, full of pride asked his lover to go instead, sealing both their fates.

Patroclus fell to Hector’s spear, and Achilles’ hope fell with him.

Achilles’ grief could not be contained, and no amount of Trojan corpses eased it.

When a river refused to contain any more of his carnage, he fought the river’s god himself. Nature was no match for the storm of love and despair that raged inside him.

When revenge did not sate him, he dragged Hector’s corpse behind his chariot for days.

Patroclus could take no more and begged his soulmate to grieve him properly with a funeral.

Achilles relented and admitted the truth. The morning star of Achilles had lost his evening star in Patroclus. His pride cost him everything he held dear. He realized what he lost too late. The wailing of pride deafened him to the whispers of life.

Achilles’ story begs the question. Will we gain the whole world only to lose our soul? One cannot serve the two masters of pride and love. Achilles is all of us. Capable of great love and great hate. What kind of hero will you be?