Constantinople or Nova Roma or New Zion, whatever, <br />no Greek reigned it for eleven centuries only Athenian <br />Irene, the shadow of King Leo, she who distorted morals <br />who hanged images of saints on the walls of churches <br />and bodies, tongues, eyes of her rivals in gallows, <br />she who cut the life of his grandson, her son’s eyes <br />in Purpura palace hall, where she gave birth to him. <br /> <br />Blind son, you thought love would save you from her! <br />But she sent Maria as nun, grabbed Erythro from you. <br />You two ignored her, fell in love, sat on throne? So what! <br />Implicated you in scandals to rouse people and clergy, <br />she made you blind to grab the throne. God provided <br />Nikiforos; drove her away, cherishing you as his son. <br /> <br />But the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea had other opinion, <br />didn’t canonize her as iconolater so we don’t worship her, <br />her, who was called a wretched mother, intriguing, unable, <br />her, who broke the defense, offered the City to the Arabs. <br />I suppose only the iconolaters and chroniclers praise you! <br /> <br />Oh Irene, snake of forty cubits, self-destructed, alone you <br />pulled your eyes out, hung yourself on the History’s wood. <br />‘Greek is not any fool, malicious, maniac for bloody power’ <br />Paparrigopoulos shouts in your tomb; even dead do listen.**<br /><br />Joseph S. Josephides<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/greek-is-not-anyone-who-is-fool/
