Everyone sang of Achilles deeds
how his blood was smelt of iron
and his skin unblemished by steel
but I knew the dent a kiss would make
bruising his cheek enflaming his breast
His haunches knitted burnished bronze
dipped in gold ambrosia left metal on
tongue but I left my mark twisting muscle
and biting his ear but no crimson
dripped but sank into his holy altar
His nymph mother suckled him on her
spirited breast but no other woman felt
those lips on fertile flesh and for duty I
obeyed his strict order disciplined in
groove and thrust of hot tip spear giving
My grip to his command each rounded
jerk-bash of shield guided hefted to
targeted arrows cleave renting cloud
of heads I fell for him and wait in drift
fields knowing I am his heel first weakness
and death
image: The Smithsonian