Behind us – ashes, ruins and waste land
Before us – seaweed, wind and foam
Behind us – babies, lost as men and dreams
Before us – waves and ships and shame
Oh sisters, let’s swap places, go!
Mother, let’s persuade the seagulls:
Come down to earth. Let us fly!
Some say – my eyes are made up smokey
We all know – darker things will come
I seek my – sisters: so many missing still
I count my – fingers: I had luck!
Despair in the fog is cruel
Pain in the sun is perverse
White seagulls float in the skies
Black raven flock on the shore
Out, out with you, death-bringing boats! Son-killing weapons!
No rest of a rest may stay in our lands. Clean our homeland, clean, clean!
Clean, clean…
My mother – a statue of revenge now
She spits on all the traitors on both sides
Loaded full with grief and anger
And though it’s heaven to have her near!
Oh sisters, let’s swap places, go!
Mother, let’s persuade the seagulls:
Come down to earth and let us fly!
Despair in the fog is cruel
Pain in the sun is perverse
White seagulls float in the skies
Black raven flock on the shore
Lost beauty of our blazing city
And with it all we once called life
There it stands. Pales the sun.
I dislike it at once.
As monstrous it is as –
The silence around.
No Greek in our sight.
They vanished, they burnt
Their camps on the shore.
Some voice inside me
Can’t stop I to repeat:
The damn horse.
You damn horse.
You big lie.
You damn gift.
The damn horse.
Cheap it is. Brutal too.
How could that please Gods?
My aunt warns you, father!
My sister attacks it,
And so does the priest.
He warned you so sternly,
you punished him, fools!
Some voice inside them
won’t stop to repeat:
The damn horse.
You damn horse.
You big lie.
You damn gift.
The damn horse.
Why didn’t you sense it?
Don’t open the doors!
Ten years had to pass
‘til you opened the doors.
For death, not for freedom!
How could you not see?
He was so…
Beautiful, crazy and young
Charming and funny and spoilt,
Enthusiastic, arrogant, sweet,
Insecure, beasty and vain.
He was my brother, and I loved him.
He was a mess, and I adored him.
But for some he was the cause of war…
They made him a cause of war
They made him the torch of Troy
Branded for evermore.
A single man, a single move
Improper lust, an infant’s joke
That fitted in their
Old and long-hatched plans.
They used the boy! They used the boy!
The bastard warlords used the boy!
They used the boy!
She was so…
Beautiful, crazy and young
Charming and funny and spoilt,
Enthusiastic, arrogant, sweet,
Insecure, beasty and vain.
She was his idol, and he loved her
She was a mess, and he adored her.
But for some she was the cause of war…
They made her the cause of war
They made her the plague of Troy
Branded for evermore.
A single girl, a single move
Improper lust, a woman’s hope
That fitted in their old
and long-hatched plans
They used the girl! They used the girl!
The bastard warlords used the girl!
They used the girl!
A simple guy, a simple try
The peoples’ wish for better lives
That fitted in their old
and long-hatched plans.
They used us all! They used us all!
The bastard warlords used us all!
They used us all!
They used the boy! They used the boy!
The bastard warlords used the boy!
They used the boy!
They used the girl! They used the girl!
The bastard warlords used the girl!
They used the girl!
They used us all! They used us all!
The bastard warlords used us all!
They use us all!
The goddess of hunting
demands a girl to avenge a deer.
A sacred deer killed by a king.
Poor deer, foolish king!
Wait! Artemis – Goddess of women,
children, freedom – the moon!
Would do such a thing?? Hmm…
The king sends to his queen
To prepare their daughter:
A young bride for the first hero.
Surprise: The father stabbed her, blessed by a priest,
For the sake of good winds to set sail for a war.
For the sake of good winds to set sail for a war?
Who would believe such nightmares?
Allow them to enter their brain?
Plug you ears and you heart! Plug!
And try to stay sane!
I could not
Nor could my sister in pain
I did not imagine we’d suffer the same:
Shame! Shame! Shame!
Tears in his eyes and a knife in his hand,
A mother outraging, foolish king!
No one of his men, poor boys, sent to Troy,
Is able to move, is eager to watch.
No wind, no wind and no mercy.
No wind and no mercy.
Should I believe in his tears?
Pity the guys, who stupidly
stare on the ground?
Should I believe that the goddess
Of women, children, freedom – the moon
In the very last moment
changed the girl for a deer?
Blow wind! Come, mercy?!
Who could believe such fairytales?
Allow them to daze your brain?
Plug your ears against lies! Plug!
But still try to stay sane…
I could not
Nor could my sister in pain
I did not
Imagine we’d suffer the same,
Shame! Shame!
But not ours.
Oh, not ours!
It’s your shame!
Reckless men, wicked priests,
Foolish kings!
It’s your shame!
It’s your shame!
From one side
The queen of the Amazons
Elegant being, fused with her horse
Leopard skin is her sign.
Her girls surround her
Are they warriors or dancers?
From the other side
The king of the Myrmidons
Notorious winner, bored by success:
Black armour, blond hair
A metal-strong rock band
The king and his gang.
Some are so lost
Trapped in their souls
Bound by their laws
They will never, never, never
Lose fear
They can never ever
Feel trust.
And love will kill them
As they kill love
The kill love!
They say that
Her best girl, from childhood on
Sisterly mirror – ever since
Is stone-dead as his mate
Their souls surround them:
They have nothing to lose
We can testify,
That they ran in each other
With the passion of animals,
Furious animals,
For the absolute kick
The ultimate fuck
For the glorious death.
Some are so lost
Trapped in their souls
Bound by their laws
They will never, never, never
Lose fear
The can never ever
Feel trust.
And love will kill them
As they kill love.
They kill love.
To wake up beside a stranger
Who killed your husband,
Dragged you onto his ship
The man ruined your life.
Made you a thing
That should obey
You’ve been a queen
Now you’re just one of many
Just one of many
I pitied these “poor strangers”
And realised they’re slaves like us!
I thought I’ve been born free
And woke up in a trap like them!
Could anyone please turn the tide?
Could anyone please turn the tide?
I realised they’re just like us.
Some say that he protects you
Your rapist is a handsome guy
Their people’s hero.
“Romance” they gossip.
What a sick opinion!
You’ve been a free,
A mighty, lucky woman
Now, now you’re just one of many
Just one of many
I pitied these “poor strangers”
And realised they’re slaves like us!
I thought I’ve been born free
And woke up in a trap like them!
Could anyone please turn the tide?
Could anyone please turn the tide?
I realised they’re just like us.
Once we were free
Beloved, lucky women
Now we’re just like many
Just like too many
Just like too many
Just like so many
Your radiant face
Your winning smile
Convinced our hearts
Your brilliant speech
Bewitched them all.
Your stunning brain
Your luscious mind
Left us intrigued,
Mediocre, blind.
I understood
Your life for music
Arts and prophecy.
But not at all
Your trust in him!
All she could say, was: Stop!
All she would scream was:
Run for your lives – don’t look back!
Use your damn brains and flee the dark!
And never trust the promise of a god!
I can’t forget
Your panic-face
Your broken voice
The disbelief of
What he did to you:
The doubtful gift
Of clairvoyance
As a thick bribe
To be his whore
As you refused
He cursed your tongue.
Left you alone
a babbling girl,
who saw it all:
And yet was heard no more.
All she could say, was: Stop!
All she would scream was:
Run for your lives – don’t look back!
Use your damn brains and flee the dark!
And never trust the promise of a god!
But no one listened
I listened. How I listened.
I dreamed. How I dreamed.
An endless chain of nightmares.
I prayed, they’d never seen the day!
No one can force herself to face
A future of her city burning.
Her husband slaughtered
Her brave sons killed, the bravest sons.
Her daughters raped, kidnapped, enslaved.
Could you, could you have listened?
Say, “no, mother, I don’t know, mother.
I’d just bow mother before the depth of pain,
That you survived – to save the living.”
And yet I could not. No one could.
And yet I could not. No one could.
So I planned. How I planned!
I prayed. Oh, how I prayed!
To see that glorious day!
Where I could look them in the eyes,
Alight the temples of their cities,
Destroy the perpetrator’s lives
Profane their shrines
Take all their sons,
And make them tremble
for their daughters.
Could you, could you forgive?
Say, “no, mother, I don’t know, mother.
I’d just bow mother before the depth of pain,
That you survived – to save the living.”
And yet I could not. No one could.
And yet I could not. No one could.
Knew her from fairy tales
The goddess of the sea
Spouse of a mortal man
Fond of her tender son:
Burnt him in holy fires,
Dipped him in mythic rivers
Hid him in female clothes
And sent him far away…
So no one could recruit him for the war!
Son of the seas!
Wow!
That’s why mother used to shout:
I’m quite normal, I’m damn mortal,
Forget the queen I am a mother
Always busy: To keep you save
Cherish your lives, protect you from
black forces: be they gods or men!
Knew, she assisted him
The goddess of the sea,
Always afraid to lose him.
Organised that shield:
Handcrafted by a god.
Helped him to kill my brother,
Made him return the corpse
The rest of our love…
(quick) And when he died she sent him to the isle of bliss!
Son of the seas!
Wow!
Still his mother starts to cry:
You’re quite normal, you’re damn mortal,
Forget the goddess I’m a mother
Always busy: To keep you save
Cherish your live, protect you from
black forces: be they gods or men!
To keep you save
Cherish your live, protect you from
black forces: be they gods or men!
Be they gods or men!
Always busy…
To keep you save…
He’s nearing so slowly. Who is the man?
The nature so silent. What is the plan?
My sister so nervous. What does she see?
My mother so touchy. What does she fear?
Ah – it could be the butcher’s son. Poor copy!
Ah – something odd-cruel is in the air…
Ah – she knows, they’re coming for me!
Ah – she feels, she has to leave, leave me.
Want to make me your slave?
I’ll poison your life!
To be your sex-doll?
I’ll barf on your body!
Need cheap working power?
I’m a spoilt princess!
You want me to die?
I’ll praise the good gods!
He looks so familiar – The killer’s son?
The clown points at me – where do we go?
Sister, stop weeping – So solemn, why?
Mother, stop crying – where’s your pride?
Ah – your dead daddy wants me to die!
Ah – a present to him and your gods!
Ah – to break my strong mother’s heart!?
Well – I’ll show you the hero, you heroes!
Want to make me your slave?
I’ll poison your life!
To be your sex-doll?
I’ll barf on your body!
Need cheap working power?
I’m a spoilt princess!
You want me to die?
I’ll praise the good gods!
I’ll praise the good gods
The good gods, mother,
The good, good gods…
Stop crying, mother!
They won’t rape me.
Stop begging, mother!
They won’t break me.
Stop cracking, mother!
I’ll go in dignity, dignity, dignity!
Stop it, mother!
Aren’t you the queen of Troy?
Can we come back?
This time I trust mum, ‘cause I want.
Do we adjust?
Each being craves the sun!
Can we protest?
We try and try again.
Could we restart?
Why not? A part of me exists.
Why not?
Did someone prove?
Oh yes, the queen of Hades did herself!
The queen of Hades did herself!
She did herself.
Imagine, she’s been kidnapped as a girl
A girl collecting flowers on a field
Hades, king of the underworld felt lust.
No god, no man would hinder him, but wait:
Her mother did! She broke the deal! She brought her back!
Her mother, queen of harvest, grain and life
Refused obedience, broke the deal, quit gods.
Became a furious woman, who insists
On bringing back her daughter to the sun.
And she prevailed! Turned Hades down! Her girl returned.
To stay with her in summer, spring and fall.
It’s just in winter, that she leaves the earth…
Winter, that she leaves the earth…
Winter, that is Hades Home…
Can we come back?
This time I trust, because I want.
Do we adjust?
Each being craves the sun.
Can we protest?
We try and try again.
Could we restart?
Why not? A part of me exists.
Why not?
Did someone prove?
Oh yes, the queen of Hades
Did herself!
The queen of Hades did herself!
The queen of Hades did herself!
She did herself
Okay… her mother helped.
Hey, Earth,
Have you really had enough of us, growing so fast?
Hey, Earth,
Have you really asked the boss for a war to reduce us?
Was it really Zeus’ plan to set East against West?
Did it need a golden apple to spark a childish strife?
Could the goddess of love fulfil a spoilt boy’s wet dream
To deliver a war-cause for a ten-year long siege?
A wet dream…
As a war-cause…
Could we ever live without you?
Would we dare to see the truth?
Are you in us or above us?
Do we feed you?
Do you rule?
Hey, gods,
Could you really ask a king to slaughter his daughter?
Was he just a helpless wimp, to follow such a law?
Did you really believe that a mother would bear this
Without breeding revenge? Or was she meant as your tool?
Have you been surprised, that she killed her numb husband?
And danced with the furies – till they got her in the end?
Till they got her in the end… hey gods!
Could we ever live without you?
Would we dare to see the truth?
Are you in us or above us?
Do we feed you?
Do you rule?
Hey, men,
I need some explanations – would you listen to me?
Can’t you see your will for power caused the whole shit?
Did you know that you would leave us? As the rest of the rest?
Did you ever see the future, did you care, regret, protest?
How could you, after all, send a message to my mother,
To slaughter her daughter, to make your ships run,
To soothe your hero and your gods???
Hey men!
Could you ever live without them?
Would you dare to see the truth?
Are they in you or above you?
Do you feed them?
Do you rule?
Do you need them?
Do you rule?
There is a hole in time –
Things – that must not happen.
Scenes – never to be seen.
Sounds – death to human ears.
My sister saw the future
My mother mourns the past
Yet on the very edge of time
She’s stuck: my noble brother’s love.
They took her boy, the pricks!
They feared the child might someday take revenge…
Someday – you kinky fools:
His little flying soul
Will stain your names forever
His uncomparing smile
Shall doom your memory!
His simple zest for life
Beats all your cynic tricks!
You murdered everything
That’s precious and sublime.
How dare you even breathe?
How dare you breathe?
My sister sees the future
My mother mourns her sons
Yet till the very end of time
We’re stuck – together, all of us.
They took our prince, the pricks!
They feared, the child might someday take revenge…
Someday – you kinky fools!
Someday?
His little flying soul
Will stain your names forever
His uncomparing smile
Shall doom your memory!
His simple zest for life
Beats all your cynic tricks!
You murdered everything
That’s precious and sublime.
How dare you even breathe?
How dare you breathe?
His little flying soul shall stain your names forever!
How to begin?
They say your husband was a kind and humorous family-man.
Devoted to his unspectacular pretty island, lover of dogs and olive-trees.
He even played the madman, when they came to recruit him for Agamemnon’s dirty mission. Obviously, he was not a hell of an actor. A tragedy for all of us…
Is the reconquest of a pleasure-seeking young wife a credible explanation for endless loss and pain on both sides, what do you think, dear Penelope?
So sorry to disturb you,
But I didn’t have the chance
To fall in love, to marry,
See sons or daughters grow
To handle suitors, raise a boy
To wait for years, to lose your joy
Be jealous, witty, weave, survive?
So, would you recommend it: life?
Love from the other side,
Yours, Polyxena
I’m sure you wouldn’t have agreed in sacrificing me, before the “heroes” left our coast. And you wouldn’t want my mum to be a slave in your home – another brilliant idea of your husband, if I may say so, and a doubtful one: You don’t know my mother!
How did you deal with his highly original excuses on his way back?
I mean, a man who blindsides childish giants, showdowns with sea monsters and gets entangled in all kinds of affairs with witches, goddesses, nymphs and sirens – all of whom, self-evidently young and beautiful? He even paid us a brief official visit in Hades, did you know?
What on earth would poets and filmmakers of all ages have done without your husband?
But how did you feel about your reunion after 20 years, amidst the corpses of your young suitors, whom your now elderly husband had killed with his legendary crossbow? What a way to teach your son some manners after his return home…
No, no – I don’t want to be cynical, dear Penelope.
So sorry to disturb you,
But I didn’t have the chance
To fall in love, to marry,
See sons or daughters grow
To handle suitors, raise a boy
To wait for years, to lose your joy
Be jealous, witty, weave, survive?
So, would you recommend it: life?
Love from the other side,
Yours, Polyxena
I won. How I won.
I killed. And how I killed.
The darkest of all nightmares.
He prayed, he’d never seen the day!
No one could outguess what I did:
Scratch out the traitor’s eyes
Take all his boys
Wipe out the prick,
Who drowned my last,
my youngest son
Could you, could you now hate me?
Could you, could you now hate me?
Say, “no, mother, I don’t know, mother.
I’d just bow mother before the depth of pain
That you survived – to catch the culprits.”
And yet I could not. No one can.
And yet I could not. No one can.
And yet I could not. No one can.
What a miracle that is:
That some of us survived.
That some escaped the flames!
And more: To talk of hope,
To build new ships,
Take all the craft and wit
To make it over, over
To the unknown, unsure land.
Listen, warlords,
Listen, heartless,
And you, clever profiteers:
We’ll rise from the earth,
We’ll publish your deeds,
Predict your downfall,
Applaud your end!
Survive and found new cities.
Survive and found new Troys
What a miracle that is!
That poets kept our memory.
Artists showed our scenes.
And more: the past appeared!
The stone broke through the earth
Revealed my death,
Showed mother’s pain
And proved their guilt.
Listen, warlords,
Listen, heartless,
And you, clever profiteers:
We’ll rise from the earth,
We’ll publish your deeds,
Predict your downfall,
Applaud your end!
Survive and found new cities.
Survive and found new Troys
We’ll rise from the earth,
We’ll publish your deeds,
Predict your downfall,
Applaud your end!
Survive and found new habits
Survive and found new laws!
Survive and found new cities
Survive and found new Troys!
