Thinking about supernatural stories, the first thing that came to mind was "Greek Mythology". I chose a poem on greek mythology because of the interesting stories and events that occurred in the lives of the olympian gods and goddesses. Using the Google search engine I came across many poems that dealt with greek mythology. Ares an olympian god in particular, was the god of war who is also known by the roman name of "Mars". Ares was disliked by the gods and mortals, he was in favor of bloodlust and destruction during war. Ares loved the thrill to engage in battle without using any particular tactics or strategy in combat, unlike Athena who is goddess of wisdom and war. Athena believes that battle should be necessary to preserve peace and to uphold justice. Ares however, was not concerned for such things.
UNDER the stars the armies lie asleep:
Between the lines a quiet river flows
Through brakes of honeysuckle, and of rose,
And fields where poppies droop in languor deep:
The night as with a mantle now enfolds
The muffled forms upon the pasture low;
The scent of thyme comes down across the wolds,
And on the roses of the dark hedgerow
The summer starlight falls in flakes of silver snow.
Here, from the wooded haunt of nymph and fawn,
The hidden guns peer forth across the hills,
Their wheels are on the trampled daffodils,
And so they wait the coming of the dawn.
In dappled shadows, where the fairy weaves
On grasses tall his web of sparkling lace,
The gunners lie, their heads upon the sheaves:
White falls the moon on many a sunburnt face,
That ere the day shall feel another God's embrace.
Among the barrows of the sunken plain,
Where sleep the soldiers of another day,
On misty meadow and on upland gray,
On many eyes, that close but once again,
The peaceful earth her benediction throws,
The waves of healing music from the streams,
That though the willows softly comes, and goes ;
And now the face of all the country seems
A mirror consecrated to an army's dreams.
From far away is borne a woman's pray'r
To Ares, restless in his iron crown :
"Sleep, Ares, Sleep ! For, once the dice are thrown,
Empires to thee are leaves upon the air !
Ere all the homes go smoking to the skies,
And men are swept upon the battle-blast,
Ere all the tears are wept from women's eyes,
O Queen of Love, hold now the Lover fast,
And let him taste eternal anodyne at last !"
But with the dawn there comes a soldier's song:
"When all the guns have fired their last salute,
And the tongues of all the world are mute,
And life is dearer than to right a wrong,
Then may he weary of his burnng wine,
And rest forever in the arms divine
Of Aphrodite passionate and pale-
But Hark ! He comes ! Hail, Ares ! Lord of Thunder, Hail !
"He rides above the ocean and the snow,
His trail is on the curtain of the skies :
Brighter than dawn, his young eternal eyes
Shine in the eyes of Valour far below :
Now Mammon hides beneath his trembling halls,
While Honour marches singing into war ;
On strange forgotten hearts a radiance falls,
As ever nearer, burning from afar,
The sword of Ares gleams above the morning star."
"The other gods are weaker ; thou alone
Dost break the king and bend the emperor's knee:
Lower than unto Christ they bow to thee,
Lord of the slave, and guardian of the free,
Steel-hearted Ares, shaker of the throne ;
Young god of battle, restless lover, hail !
For, once a man has seen thine eyes aflame,
And mounted on the horses of the gale,
Death is a nothing, life an empty name:
Arise and lead us ere our blood be tame,
O lord of thunder, Arcs of the crimson mail !"
This poem is about life and death that occurs in battle that when war arises mortals(men) shall fear Ares for when he comes... destruction will bring flames upon their homes. Men are swept into the field of battle and that the tears of women would become a prayer to the goddess of love Aphrodite, so that she may save the dying men with "Eternal Anodyne" or to be relieved of all pain with her love. When the battle comes to an end... the fallen shall rest forever within the arms of Aphrodite. The god of war, Ares is never too far during the times of war. He will lead those brave men with courage and valor so that death is not a life to be feared.
You can find this poem from The Volunteer and Other poems by Herbert A. Asquith at the following link:
1)http://beck.library.emory.edu/greatwar/poetry/view.php?id=asquith_05
2)http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/92519-Herbert--Ashley-Asquith-Ares--God-of-War
1)http://beck.library.emory.edu/greatwar/poetry/view.php?id=asquith_05
2)http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/92519-Herbert--Ashley-Asquith-Ares--God-of-War
These sources are on the biographies of Herbert Henry Asquith his father who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He served as Prime Minister from 1908-1916 during The Great War (World War 1).
2)http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/PRasquith.htm
3)http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/asquith.htm
People would often get CONFUSED with the 2 Asquiths, I did too... so I'm updating the links. This is the REAL Herbert Ashley Asquith who wrote this poem and the other poems:
1)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Asquith_(poet)
2)http://oldpoetry.com/oauthor/show/herbert__ashley_asquith
These links contain further information about the Greek God Ares:
3)http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/asquith.htm
People would often get CONFUSED with the 2 Asquiths, I did too... so I'm updating the links. This is the REAL Herbert Ashley Asquith who wrote this poem and the other poems:
1)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Asquith_(poet)
2)http://oldpoetry.com/oauthor/show/herbert__ashley_asquith
These links contain further information about the Greek God Ares:
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