Apollo to Cassandra

Cassandra was the the daughter of Hecuba and Priam and the sister of Paris (and sister in law of Helen) She was blessed by Apollo with second sight and, because she wouldn’t sleep with him, he cursed at the same time: no one would believe her predictions.

Apollo to Cassandra

The tapestry began, aged twelve,

when you had the chance

to fuck this god

and declined.

How coy.

Now pregnant with woe

you see Troy’s fall:

a nine-year long corridor,

flecked with Myrmidons,

sullied Scamander,

the shadowed brow of Ida.

Helen will be smug.

Dare your tongue to Priam,

Hecuba’s indulgence has waned.

Your web of hair,

threadbare mind,

flutter against plate glass eyes

the cries of war

your lullabies.