I will watch for thee

Shining Achilles, no more shalt I wait for thee

to unstiffen thy neck and unbend mindless rage

Hector hath pinned us to the sea and yet thy pout

when thou alone might answer Hector blow for blow

I have loved thee since we were boys and Chiron taught

us together the art of war, to hunt and heal

to sing the virtues of honor and fellowship

thou were greater than Jason and Asclepius

casting the javelin further than any mortal

thy singing as pleasing as Phoebus Apollo's

in every art thou were like onto a god

and I, a fool humbled by thy gossamer grace

a poor shade o'erwhelmed by thy beauty and light

what pleasures must I forsake till honor awakes

the memory of arms wrapped tightly in embrace

our chests pressed skin to skin and thy lips tasting mine

I cannot watch thee like this lest love turn to hate

even if I ride thy chariot to my death

and plunge into the foul dark of Hades dread keep

the only lesson thy failed to master, I learned

when thou could not, to foretell all that lies in store

I know that I must die for thee to save the Greeks

perhaps thy helm and armor will confer brief fame

that I might unhorse even the godlike Hector

or drive my lance into mighty Sarpedon's breast.

...

I will watch for thee in Hades, thine, Patroclus.

...

link to Harper's challenge:

Dear John,

a Harper Lewis rogue challenge