War and Love/Captive

by Richard Aldington

For works with similar titles, see Captive.

 

CAPTIVE

They have torn the gold tettinxFrom my hair;And wrenched the bronze sandalsFrom my ankles.

They have taken from me my friendWho knew the holy wisdom of the poets,Who had drunk at the feastWhere Simonides sang.

No more do I walk the calm gardensIn the white mist of olives;No more do I take the rose-crownFrom the white hands of a maiden.

I, who was free, am a slave;The Muses have forgotten me.The gods do not hear me.

Here there are no flowers to love;But afar off I dream that I seeBent poppies and the deathless asphodel.