I was there when Achilles fell,
there before the horse—
before it all: the burning wall,
before Clytemnestra buried her blade.
I was there when Aphrodite lied,
offering me as a bribe.
I never wanted Paris,
never wanted to be pawned off
to a second son
any more than my mother wanted
feathery ravishment, divine desecration,
cursing me with this face
that never craved a single ship,
only to relax into the lie
that no one would dare cross
the redheaded king,
even to steal his bride.
I was never of Troy:
Curse the poets stripping me
of my identity.
I am Helen,
Queen of Sparta.
About the Creator
Harper Lewis
I'm a subversive weirdo nerd witch who loves rocks. Intrusive rhyme bothers me. Some of my fiction may have provoked divorce proceedings in another state.😈
My words are mine. Suggest ai use and get eviscerated.
MA English literature, CofC
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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Comments (6)
Fabulous work Harper!
Outstanding writing Harper! You so powerfully describe and make clear Helen’s, Queen of Sparta, strengths. Very well done!!!
Compelling from start to finish. It's amazing that a seemingly simple line like "I was never of Troy:" can resonate so well. Rich, fertile language, wonderful imagery and metaphor. Great job.
🌼 "I was there when Achilles fell" is such a killer opening. It immediately signals that you’ve reclaimed Helen's place, showing how she was used and pawned off. Your phrase "feathery ravishment" is a haunting juxtaposition, while "divine desecration" is a striking use of alliteration. Both really underscore the cycle of violence she was born into.
Your interactions with myth are always so damn impressive. You come out in the end always a stronger woman, both as a person and as a writer.
So beautiful. Another misrepresented and misunderstood woman.