You may have Achilles
whose mouth frothed more
than the river he fought.

You are welcome to Ajax
with his towering shield
and skull full of rocks.

I even grant you Hector
who in the name of Troy
left his son fatherless.

Only leave me Paris -
effete, peak-capped
bowman Paris -

who threw away
lordship of the world
for Helen

of the slender ankles.