Best Brutus Poems
Brutus Iulius Trois page 08
Suddenly stillness all sounds silenced the last pirate slain.
From the bowels of the Tireme came cheers that grew louder
From men newly freed from their enslavement to the Thracian oars
Phyrgians, Scythians, Mysians and Lycians
all hittite clansmen, kinsmen and allies of the Trojan tribes
also were heard loud laudations from the surviving Phoenicians
with softer lamentations for those they had lost.
The Phoenician Teresh, the purple merchant of Tyre
swore blood brotherhood to Brutus
binding the Trojans to the Sea people in perpetuity
giving his twelfth son Tursha to squire the Trojan
Tursha terrified in the sea battle had hidden in the hold
praying to Mercury the patron of merchants
Brutus renamed the boy Turonus and proclaimed him a Trojan
Brutus sent this new nephew to tend to Imogen
In the sad sea green eyes of this foster child
Imogen saw echos of her own recent woes
comforting him she found comfort herself.
When the Trojan siege had ended by trickery
When the city was sacked and the Palladium taken
The Greeks left a land salted with blood and bone
The Greeks left a desolated city with defiled temples
The Greeks left cursed with their own profane deeds.
The Greeks left the Trojan traitor Antenor king with nothing to rule
To abate the Greek curses caused by Locrian Ajax's vile deeds
The Pythia at Delphi declared a thousand years of atonement
with two Locrian priestesses sent as sacrifices to Troy
sent to serve Minerva's temple in Troy, bearing the Ajaxian curse.
As the oracle demanded Diomedes returned the Palladium to Aeneas
Then did all Greek suffering cease, Ulysees returned home.
Hesione's son Teucer founded a new Salamis in Cyprus.
When Antenor rebuilt Troy's walls, Neptune shook them down
sending waves that washed away fields, salting the gardens again.
Apollo plagued Antenor with mice which ate the harvest to the seed.
Scamander's golden spring lambs, sickened and died
Afraid of what Minerva would do if they killed the Locrian Scapegoats
Antenor and his sons soon abandoned Troy to the Phyrgians
They sailed off seeking shelter far from this thrice cursed homeland
Brutust Iulius Trois Page 07
Brutus called his captains into conference
we are done with creeping along the shorelines
prepare now to sail out across the Aegean
the winds are with us and Troy awaits!
Imogen seeing Hesione, ceased weeping
Hesione, were you happy with your lot?
was Telamon a better fate than Neptune's dragon.
So you are returned home having reclaimed your veil
So Priam is again Podarces and the serpentine Cetus awaits.
With the dawn the Trojan fleet finally sailed out.
Guardian dolphins leaping alongside in sunrise
Sped on by Aeolus, the windy son of Neptune
For Neptune had been placated by Brutus
by his offerings and by his vows
happy to be headed homeward the Trojans sang
composing happy ballads about Brutus
his triumphal return of the Trojans to Troy
of the golden lives he was leading them to
so the sunny days of the crossing passed
The fleet of Brutus sailed past the foggy isle of Tenedos in the last hours of night.
gliding over Neptunes's golden palace, the Aegean glowing with Salacia's lights
raced they toward the ness, the headlands of the Helespont
Suddenly from the fog came, Alarms, cries, clamor, the clash of iron
Sol's opening eyes revealed a Thracian pirate attacking a Phoencian
Tossing bodies overboard feeding the lesser cetus the sharks of the sea.
With his own battle cry Brutus took what was to hand and threw it.
as Nauta the helmsman steered into the fight
Tossed like a weapon Hesoine's amphora burst upon the Thracians
spearing them with shards as her black ashes coated the sea
clogging the gills of the lesser cetus who dived deep
deep and away from all of the disturbance.
As the ships came together the Trojans boarded the Thracian trireme
swords slashing stabbing slicing as they bloodily slayed the pirates
Imogen left behind looked away looked down upon the water
only she saw Hesoine's ashes transform into a sea dog
a great grey seal that swam to the beach of Cynossema
finding shelter beneath the shadow of Hecuba's empty tomb.
Brutus Iulius Trois Page 03
Grey eyed Brutus was truly a Trojan son
as he attended his father upon a great hunt
Jealous Juno hated this Brutus this Trois
her anger caused his arrow to slay
neither the black boar nor the collared hind
t'was Silvanus the fatal arrow struck
Banished by kindred unfortunate Brutus
abandoned Alba Longa for Chaonia in Greece
In Chaonia Helenus wise son of Priam
while a Grecian slave had gained all of Pyrrhus's property
Andromache, Hector's widow and poor Neoptolemus's crown
in Chaonia Helenus had rebuilt his Troy in the heart of Greece
Alas long dead was Helenus his people left in bondage to Pandrasus the king
once within the walls that were built from Trojan memories
Brutus was welcomed by all men alike
for his skill with sword, his youth, his sorrow
brought him friends from all walks of life.
here seemingly content the Trojan grew older
an acknowledged leader of men.
Up in the heavens upon the high mount
Aquarius the eternal, Jove's sweet faced cup bearer
eldest child of all the Trois, was weeping
unable to don manhood's mantle to save his patrimony
he bemoaned the travails of the surviving Trojans
Venus strode forth to stand before Jove
Ill have you kept the promise that was given
that all Troys children shall have safe harbor
free from Juno's deadly wrath
Yet in Greece in Juno's own land
Trojans live in bondage to her beloved Greeks
with them now is Brutus who Juno hates most
for truly is he a most Trojan son
descended from your own blood.
Aurora arose and answered Aquarius's crys
Look upon Trojan Tithonus and be glad of your youth
Venus how are you wronged
A generation ago Troy was taken by treachery
the survivors separated scattered yet still seem undefeated
My Memnon a king assisted Troy and died a young hero.
Your Aeneas a hero abandoned Troy and died an old king
I do not hear you weep for old Aeneas
Memnon's heirs still wander the wild-lands
homeless, hearth-less waiting for Juno's forgiveness
Brutus Iulius Trois page 02
Where Trojans are there will be Troy
In Hesperia the elder cousins the new Dardanoi
the sons of Silvanus Dardanus shall inherit
and Lavinia's bloodline shall dwindle down
caught by a curse not even Anna Perenna can protect
as the very last drops are given to wolves
Thus purified the Dardanoi become a great nation
As for the house of Ascanius and the true Trojans
Two bright stars that flame and fall
Troy is lost, Trojans are lost
a matricide, a patricide an orphan child
shall escape his curse and rescue Creusa
who cries all alone in Troy's ruins
Where Trojans are there will be Troy
Ascanius did not weep or cry in anger
Ascanius did not try to stop what was to come
doing such things had never helped his father Aeneas
Ascanius placed his faith in older prophecies made
and his trust in the protection of grandmother Venus
with peaceful prayers sent he pleas to the Parcae
Nona spin your finest threads for my son.
Decima give him a full cup of life leave him not wanting
Morta keep your knife idle until after my time.
Ascanius paid the Auger in silver coin
one eyed Merlinius bowed and left
To his soldiers Ascanius said slay me this soothsayer
but the mage Merlinius staged his own suicide
drinking a draft of false death
disappearing some said into the west
Silent stayed Ascanius, keeping secret his son's fate
In time Silvanus Trois inherited his fathers crown
and wedded Julia Dardanus his close cousin
tying the Trojan grafts tighter to their newly Latin roots.
Julia Dardanus died in birthing a beautiful son
she breathed her last even as he breathed his first.
In sorrow Silvanus lifted his son aloft to show the courtiers
as he hefted the babe, he named his heavy burden Brutus.
In true Trojan fashion Ascanius had raised Silvanus his son
In such fashion Silvanus in turn raised Brutus Iulius Trois
*readers think of this epic as classic Latin badly translated into English.
Brutus Iulius Trois page 1
Only the oldest among us all
can truthfully tell the tale
of the way the world was
after noble Troy fell
Priam's kingdom scattered to dust and ashes
escaped had Aeneas cousin to Priam
westward fled guided by Venus
weary of wandering finding sweet rest
in the lands of Latinus, ruler of Alba Longa
Princess Lavinia warmly welcomed the widower
gifting Aeneas her dowry, the ancient Dardanian Shore
If he but challenge Turnus her suitor
Duke Turnus who desired land more than a wife.
After Aeneas the Trojan took Turnus in battle
he settled his sons in his ancestors home
Cruesa's surviving son, sad eyed Ascanius
Known as Iulius Trois, The hairy serpent of Troy
And Lavinia's sole spawn Silvanus Dardanus
Heir of the all the Arsian woodlands
So great was the bond between brothers
Ascanius named a son Silvanus Trois
and Silvanus a daughter Julia Dardanus
both bastard born by lords rights with bond women
acknowledged still for so few were family
for the sake of the lineage none could be left
exposed to the elements, abandoned orphans of fate.
On Silvanus's ninth day his name day
two bright stars fell, flaming
Ascanius sent for the soothsayer Merlinius
A seventh son of veiled Despoina
came he to prognosticate and predict
the meaning of fates portents
solely to Ascanius spoke Merlinius
spoke he first of fell and faraway times
When Hercules stepped on Troy sacking it
Troy was destroyed but not the Trojans
When Paris chose Venus, his prize was Troy's curse
So again broken and burned was beloved Troy
The survivors scattered, Aeneas settled here
Troy was destroyed but not the Trojans
Brutus Iulius Trois Page 04
Venus hastened to answer Aurora
You still weep for Memnon but where is Memnon's grave?
the squalling Memnonides yearly honor an empty tomb
Immortal Memnon dwells in the hall of slain heroes
disporting himself among the Hesperides
the new guardian of the golden apples
To the sinister of Jove sat Juno
under her aegis her tunic shimmering
with all the bright colors of a peacocks throat
her raucous voice louder than its morning song
many promises were made said Juno
promises to Venus, promises to me
some were kept, some were broken
of those remaining which will Jove keep?
vows to Jove's wife or words to Jove's daughter
Should we ask after another judgment from Paris?
Minerva glared at the other Goddesses
and angrily gave advice to father Jove
Banish these unruly Trojan children
remove them from all the shores they have known
perhaps then peace can be made between us
and the Trojan wars truly ended
Jove stood and there was silence
The Trojans are our children but the Trojans are not children
Venus would you have warriors wear woman's tunics
and hide in their homes as barbaric anarchy reigns
Juno I keep what oaths I may but even I must bow to fates decrees
if life's tapestry were to be unraveled even we would be swallowed by chaos
The unsettled ones will be gathered and scattered to new homes in the wilderness
in the west well protected by wave
lies the isle of giant Albion, Neptune's son
he that was slain by Hercules
to this Isle shall Brutus bring his Trojans
To sleeping Brutus Venus softly came
Greece is no place for a true Trojan
though your cousins shall soon rule here
these last Trojans must begin wandering anew
When Brutus awoke he sent to the Trojans
sent them to hiding, in the deep forest
to houses of shelter, to caves in the hills
then sent he a message to Pandrasus the king
we'd rather die savage beasts than live as tamed pets
we are sons of Troy though Troy is no more
therefore Pandrasus we now take our leave
Time and Time again
Uncle Poppy sat on Brutus's back
Brutus stood still never to move a jot
So in order to offer an inducement
In the lead was Molly sent
Uncle Poppy mounted Brutus,
__sat on it's back----
Then flanked Brutus
----gave it a slap-----
Worst thing he ever did
Instead going up the hill
Down the incline he sped
Bolting, dropping Uncle Poppy on his head
Rolling and sliding on his belly
Greening his clothes and splitting his welly
Denting his ego, scrambling his brain
Wreaking havoc with excruiating pain
He groaned and writhed, cussed his luck
Swearing me to secrecy of the act
Of Brutus's bad behaviour and open defiance
Shattering his trust and forged alliance
But as fading memories eases ancient pain
He recovered lost memories and tried again
Once again mounted Brutus, straddled his back
Brutus moved neither and inch nor forward a jot
Such an enchanting spectacle was gleaned
By Pusey a friend from many adventures shared
Who shouted," get down, I will take the ride
A mule is a mule, a ride is a ride
And gingerly jumped on Brutus's back
Flanked Brutus ---gave it a slap---
Brutus swayed and turned, bucked and kicked
On the concrete hard ground was Pusey shipped
Then suddenly motionless as if dead
We poured cold water over Pusey's head.
Brutus had that look on his face
Daring any other to take Pusey's place.
Molly shook her head as if to say
How can you entertain a mule who doesn't play?
How can you get on a mule's back
Flank it, give it a slap?
Mules are meant to be stubborn and free
He is the son of Molly the mare
And Rufus the Jackass
Hardly pedigree
Wouldn't you agree.
Brutus was always bad
But what can you expect from a liasion
When Molly the mare, met the Jackass
Brutus's dad?
Well here is the story about Brutus
Its a Mule, son of Molly and Rufus
Molly was a comely mare you see
Rufus looked like a Jackass in every degree
They didn't share any love or hate
But what brought them together was a twist of fate
My uncle wanted a worker you see
Something relentless, strong and mighty
To climb the valley, hills and the glen
In this capacity ,the mule was man's best friend
So a date was set for Rufus and Molly to meet
Out of the prying eyes of children to accomplish the feat
After Brutus trysts and dirty deed
Molly grew fat from Brutus's seed
Nine months later at the break of dawn
We had Brutus, Molly's craggy spawn
Now just after about a year had gone
Brutus grew sturdy and also strong
He looked more like a horse you see
An equine specimen we'll all agree
It was time for Brutus's schooling
In simple stages was the plan
Uncle Poppy, to be the leading Hand
The plan was hatched and the scene was staged
To gradually induce Brutus to his trade
We decided when Brutus was watered and fed
Uncle Poppy would mount his back and straddle his leg
Brutus didn't flinch nor did he complain
Haughtily Uncle Poppy patted Brutus's mane
Time after time he would sit on his back
Brutus stood still, but never moved a jot.
But composed and agreeable was our take
Then further progress we ought to make.
Pt 1
Brutus Iulius Trois Page 05
Loud laughed Pandrasus Hear the mice roar
yet stubborn Pandrasus swiftly gave chase
over the high mountain, through the deep forest
so easily he fell to the trap Brutus had laid
on Achelous's banks Brutus did ambush the king
Brutus standing tall looked down at Pandrasus
Pandrasus said Brutus Irony is fates game
Greek oppression rebuilt my nation
in truth you Pandrasus built my wooden horse
Metrophanes , a grandchild of great Priam
by Imbrius's widow, the captive Medesicaste
Crowned Brutus with a Laurel wreath
shouting in Greek, Hail Brutus the new Pandrasus
repeating in the Trojan tongue -hail The new Pendragon
Long may he rule over all of Chaonia
Brutus pulled off the wreath, not even by conquest is this land mine.
Greek soil is too bitter to nurture Trojan Roots
I would wash even my sandals in the sea and return to Troy
No shouted Linus one of the half blooded
I speak now for many men present
full blood, half blood we all bled for you
Our families were Trojans but Troy is no more.
Brutus! we have avenged the Trojan shame
Brutus! our wives, our children are Greek
we are not Argonauts to sail after adventure
we are not Trojans who fled from defeat
we are like the great warrior Ulysses
reluctant to leave home even for war
but stout fighters all and we are the victors
Brutus! we are Trojans only in name.
Assaracus grandson of Helenus crossed to the fore
Linus I led these enslaved sons before your birth
I gave Brutus the sword which cut our bonds
for brave Linus I also feared to use it.
My mother was Trojan My father Greek
I loved both must I choose between them?
Brutus the Trojan, Linus the Greek must I choose?
We are as a new nation, a new people
the old Phoenix dies as the new Phoenix soars
above the flames of its fathers funeral pyre
Aeneas, Ulysses, now Brutus were exiles
let our new people follow the new Pendragon home.
the unfinished ending verse is currently
So the trjojans came to Albion's Isle
The encampent named Totness - the headlands of All
for when brutus stepped down from his ship he shouted
here I am and take my rest, and This place is all
Veni et requiesce sum totus
there is a lot between still being written
who / what greets brutus at troy
how long he stays why he leaves -who else he picks up and loses in his travails
how mad is neptune about the several times lost sacrifice hesoine the great grey seal/ sea-dog
his adventures south to egypt tying into scots history
, and around north africa , malta, spain and france
before getting to totness
At last the fleet sailed into the Trojan delta
shallow waters still filled with wreckage from the siege
Silt from Scamander and Simoeis
building numerous new islands
all anchored on the old refuse
boats were beached and tents were set
animals set free to graze in the Plain
Eager Brutus left the encampment
left behind him, his ships, his Trojans
left behind him, his wife, his squire
so eager was he to see fabled Troy.
Eager was he to see Apollo's angled walls
Eager was he to see Priam's Marbled palace
Eager was he for the home of his ancestor Anchises
Imogen settling into her tent thought about
Brises beloved of Achilles
was he truly husband or just a better master
than Agamemnon or those who had you next.
The Road to Troy was neither winding nor long
Brutus Iulius Trois needed no guide
Born he was in Ascanius's Troy, Lavinium
his youth spent in Helenus's Troy, Chanoia
Brutus Iulius Trois Page 06
The defeated Pandrasus spoke out
his weary words weighted with wisdom.
Linus is as Greek as I am Greek and as a Greek
let him inherit the crown, I'll name no other heir.
take for yourself as bride my Imogen, my daughter
many fine ships shall be her portion
and peace shall be proud Imogen's price
Set sail Brutus, leave all that is Greek behind
take those who would be Trojans home to Troy
Grey bearded Membyr rapped his cane for silence.
Fools with hands still bloody from fighting!
What peace can live with the families of the slain?
Linus will wait for a crown he won't live to wear.
Brutus accept the kings tribute and let us depart.
light heart-ed Brutus danced long at his wedding
Ere he left Chanoia to sail home, home to Troy
happy Brutus was with his bride fair Helen's image
youthful Imogen, old Pandrasus's proud daughter
with his new ships Brutus went sailing , keeping to the coastlines
through the archipelagos, around the Greek peninsula
at every anchorage being joined by freedmen and escaped bonds men
at every anchorage being provisioned by small kings and unhappy chieftains
who hastily sent away this army of would be Trojans back to Troy
An unwilling wife was Imogen who wept for her homeland
her eyes turned to the shore while it was in sight
Imogen wept for her mother, her father, her fate
Imogen wept for her spinning wheel and wept for her loom
Imogen wept for her gardens, her gowns and her goats
Imogen wept for all that was hers, which was left behind.
Brutus soothed and kissed her holding her tightly
until weary with weeping Imogen slept.
At Sounion, Brutus climbed the cliff to Neptune's temple,
offering a spotted bull with passionate prayers for a safe voyage
As the sun set on the Aegean, a citizen came from Athens.
Philaeus, son of Eurysaces, the last king of Salamis.
An oracle of Apollo had demanded he renounce his rights to rule
and have Neptune's lost sacrifice returned to its altar
So he gave away his kingship, and came here carrying Hesione's ashes
Hesione, the stolen sister of Priam. The late payment of Laomedon's debt.
As Laomedon's heir, Brutus accepted the task
taking the veil covered amphora, he gave it great honor
placing it upon his own ship, fastened securely behind the prow
Brutus, my slavering Rottweiler, growls
He knows he's tougher than pooches with tails
The long pointed studs on his black leather collar
Are matched by his canines which make poodles holler
The drooling saliva that trails from his jaws
As he lumbers about on his four massive paws
Is soaking the ground and his talon like claws
Encouraging folk to keep children indoors
Devil Dog, Satan’s mutt, hellhound and more
All labels my beast has been nick-named before
I feed him on red meat and shin bones of cattle
It’s said he eats tigers but that’s tittle tattle
The park is all ours because other folk run
But wait, there’s a kitten, now this could be fun
Brutus will rip him apart for a lark
And splatter its blood and guts over the park
Hey, kitty kitty, come over to me
Play with my dog, what good friends you could be
But kitten was clever, too clever for me
He hissed and now Brutus is stuck up a tree
(continued from While Caesar watches for Brutus Part One)
Then you think of a face you love, those prayers begin
You try to crawl safely back in
The crowd disperse with taunts of " chicken"
You reach for the priest's hand, you begin to stand
But you slip on a pigeon's shhhhhh........
You awaken in a body cast from head to toe
Napoleon and Caesar are debating the earth's woe
Nurse Ratchet comes in and blows a pill down your spout
You've bought a one way ticket to loony bin, with no way out
The world is so mechanical
It's becoming so scientific
It is getting to be so-so difficult
Your eyes search for answers
Your lips mutter why
Then you glance and Napoleon walks by
He salutes you, his wounded comrade
And kisses your cheeks
You smile, Napoleon smiles
While Caesar watches for Brutus.
Athol Fugard is a leading voice in theater of Africa
will he condone silence about the street execution f George Floyd?
Dennis Brutus was being deported from USA in 1980s, from U. Penn
(I helped get him to speak against South Africa's Racist Constitution,
at Ohio University in 1984. I confess, with Libyan money as donation!)
Would the late Dennis Brutus be quiet about fascist cop Derek Chauvin?
I grew up under apartheid, deemed inferior to every white-skinned African
Not allowed to go or study where I wanted in South Africa
And loved to hear Steve Biko, Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King
Would they have been silent about "BLACK LIVES" don't matter?
Why do you write?
Are you really in the tradition of free expression, and poetry for ALL?