(When my son and I studied world history together, we enjoyed the legend of Alexander the Great. In that spirit, I composed this poem.) <br /> <br />There once was a Macedon lad <br />Whose mind was a trifling mad. <br />At twelve years of age, <br />He fancied it sage <br />To render Bucephalus glad. <br /> <br />The boy on his horse would aspire <br />To better his average sire. <br />King Philip was mild <br />Compared to his child, <br />Whose spirit consumed like a fire. <br /> <br />At twenty, the bellicose man <br />Embarked on a grandiose plan. <br />With dagger and shield <br />And soldiers to wield <br />His empire swelled quite a span. <br /> <br />In Egypt, where ships ever sail, <br />He carried the crook and the flail. <br />In Persia he led <br />As Darius fled <br />Like a dog with a quivering tail. <br /> <br />There never was fortress to stall <br />The lord with a lust for the brawl. <br />He seized with a slam <br />Of his battering ram <br />An island surrounded by wall. <br /> <br />But in India vigor was spent <br />And soldiers began to dissent. <br />They pleaded, "No more! <br />We're tired and sore." <br />The conqueror sulked in his tent. <br /> <br />Conceding at last to his fate, <br />He ordered his men to abate. <br />Along their way back <br />A germ would attack <br />And overtake Alex the Great. <br /> <br />© 2007 All rights reserved<br /><br />Michelle Claus<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/alexander-the-great/
