Classical Abduction

Classical Abduction

Four years expended in exchanging looks

And covert glances. Little was retained-

Veiled, half-drawn shades of legions, galleys, docks,

Tombs, temples, battles.   Last resort- old books,

My ransacked library where you reclaimed

Gods, emperors, heroes, ranged in box on box.

As once at Antioch, in seaside nooks

You listened, breathlessly, as I explained

How we had rushed to shipwreck on the rocks

Of Galilean intrigue, Roman crooks,

Murderous Byzantine dreams.  I guessed I’d gained

Just time enough to tell you moira knocks

Our pieces over, shoves kings, queens and rooks

Around that Persian board where we’re constrained

To play a losing game against crazed clocks,

Then realising your Stygian beauty brooks

No dallying, knew nothing else remained

Except abduct you at the equinox

And so relive those lives to which we’re chained:

Not just with blood of bulls that sand was stained.

COPYRIGHT (C) 2010 J D FRODSHAM