So 2007 is winding to a close, and I for one am looking forward to 2008 more than a little bit. But I’m swamped right now, so instead of writing some kind of joyful or weepy or poignant post, I’m going to leave you with a year-end poem…
HECTOR
Talking to her, he knew it was the end,
The last time he’d speed her to sleep with kisses:
Achilles had it in for him and was fighting mad.
The roads of his longing she again wandered,
A girl desirable as midsummer’s day.
He was a marked man and he knew it,
Being no match for Achilles whom the Gods were backing.
Sadly he spoke to her for hours, his heart
Snapping like sticks, she on his shoulder crying
Yet, sorry only that the meaning eluded him.
He slept well at night, having caressed
Andromache like a flower, though in a dream he saw
A body lying on the sands, huddled and bleeding,
Near the feet a sword in bits and by the head
An upturned, dented helmet.
–Valentin Iremonger
So, no. Not particularly festive. Has nothing to do with the New Year. Sue me. I’m a Hector girl. And don’t try to tell me you wouldn’t want to be sped to sleep with kisses…
xo
Tasha
P.S. For a holiday Good Girls picture, click here.
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Hmmmm…I dunno, my kisses don’t usually put a woman to sleep };-)> .
Great poem, though.
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You can pick ‘em. Very cool poem!
by Laura
on December 28th, 2007 at 9:21 am
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Glad you like it, Laura!
And, Dusty, yeah. Heh. Can’t say kisses have ever made me want sleep. But if they did, boy would that be a bad sign!
HOWEVER…..it’s still a lovely thought and I’d be thrilled to have the attempt made. And think about it: the kisses don’t lead to sleep, but to other things that might just (eventually) make you sleep really, really well. And if, prior to that, you were having trouble sleeping (as you might the night before the man you love goes off to certain death), one could argue that the entire process did, in fact, speed you to sleep…..
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So the kisses are a metaphor for something else, then? I can buy that.
by JDRhoades
on December 28th, 2007 at 10:27 am
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I like the girl desirable as the midsummer’s day… lovely poem, T.
xo
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My favorite line is “his heart snapping like sticks.”
by JDRhoades
on December 28th, 2007 at 11:12 am
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I like “…by the head/An upturned, dented helmet.” So sad.
And I stand by the beauty of being sped to sleep with kisses!
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I’m right there with you, Tasha. Love the poem, love the image. Thanks for sharing.
Oh, and the photo looks like you all were having a jolly good time.
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“And I stand by the beauty of being sped to sleep with kisses!”
Oh, all right. Come on over….
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great poem! I finally got my hot little hands on And Only to Deceive, and must agree with Emily — who could possibly prefer Achilles over Hector? Also, a little late to the party, but CONGRATULATIONS on your diagnosis Laura, that’s fantastic news. Here’s hoping the next year will be another good one for you (and everyone else)!
by k. cummins
on December 30th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
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Really like the poem.
Really LOVE the picture 
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