Iphigenia in America
by ROSEMARY THOMAS
WE SHALL know Iphigenia well, she
whom her father held captive,
exchanging blood for blood — oh, we
shall know Iphigenia well
when Achilles shall not return.
whom her father held captive,
exchanging blood for blood — oh, we
shall know Iphigenia well
when Achilles shall not return.
Where is her brother, he pursued by Furies,
who trailed the dark blue seas
until he found her? Where is Pylades,
his friend, who shielded him
from death’s despair? All, all these
who trailed the dark blue seas
until he found her? Where is Pylades,
his friend, who shielded him
from death’s despair? All, all these
are living again — now are men
on the shores of Greece,
on the shores of Rome,
who know the tug of the long homesickness
under the sharp erotic arrow.
on the shores of Greece,
on the shores of Rome,
who know the tug of the long homesickness
under the sharp erotic arrow.
We shall know Iphigenia well
when the warriors, without Achilles, return.
when the warriors, without Achilles, return.