He stares at me from the rock

An edifice of stately stature

Enclaving sunny days and nights

With solid Grecian grandeur.

Enshrouded in starlit nights

And romantic ecstasies of yore

He speaks of vicious brethren

And midnights of bloody gore.

Of brutal might and despotic power

Phobics of rebellion he bred

Of lovely charming concubines

And scheming swords in bed.

Of manacled hands

And strategic courtships

Of bought loyalties

And treacherous friendships.

Of haunting battles

And lilting tunes of lyres

Of costly atonements

For diplomatic quagmires.

Of empty granaries

But bursting treasuries

He conveys eloquent

Of fairy tales cut short on earth

And bleeding purple hearts.

Fractured lives

Stuck together by honour

Golden veils.............