The Musings of Gregory Papaflessas in Hades

'If Greece had ten heroes like him, it would not have been possible for me to undertake the military campaign against the Peloponnese.' -- Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt speaking about Papaflessas

Oh fallen Greece!
Impoverished --
Humiliated before her enemy-
For The Turk walks freely
in the very birthplace of Aphrodite,
of immaculate, immortal Beauty!

Will not a new Hero spring
from the far-famed Castalian-spring
or from the very bosom of freedom-loving Olympus
to rescue us
from this gross Injustice?

Oh fallen Greece!
Surely, the Spartans, the Thebans or the Cretans
will fight to free the Cyprians
from barbarian occupation.
Just as the Athenians rescued The Ionians
from Persian incursion.

No noble Hellene
would dream
of prolonged submission
to the children
of the tyranny-loving, Sultan.

Oh fallen Greece!
Is it true what others say?
That you have had your day
No longer a race of Heroes
No longer possessing the spirit of death-dealing Achilles
But rather of excuse-laden Thersites.

Despite the assertions of the learned literati
You are not a third-world country
for your present poverty -
But rather, for your surrender
to the barbaric, Turkic, foreigner.

Oh fallen Greece!
If you are paralyzed from cowardice
So desperate for a shameful peace
then let the Turks retain Cyprus
For only those willing to resist
are worthy of drinking from Freedom's glimmering chalice!

Oh fallen Greece!
Arise! Awake from your occupied slumber!
Discard your worry-beads
For tis much nobler
To face the modern Medes
with sword and shield in hand
Fighting in defense of your glorious homeland!

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