I
The Greeks taught us everything.
They gave us their gods.
All of human psychology
lives in those gods.
They gave us democracy.
They recorded philosophy.
They gave us their art.
Then they said,
Go do with this
what you will.
Never mind
the incredible things
we have done.
We are done.
We have no move to give you.
II
When we went to Sparta
we saw the women
waiting, staring
in the lobby.
They were judgmental women.
Their faces were hard.
They were severe.
But they had your bones.
These were the bones of
bold women.
Your face has been softened
but it‘s still the same face.
III
And what I most admire
is your strength
tempered by forgiveness.
Such is the forgiveness of Greece
reflected in a face.