The Iliad

Sing, goddess, the rage of Achilles. The first word is still the subject.

Hector's goodbye to Andromache, the baby laughed at the helmet. War in one detail.

Priest's daughter returned, plague lifted. The whole war started over a HR dispute.

Patroclus wore Achilles' armor and died as him. Borrowed identities have interest rates.

Hector ran three times around the walls. Even heroes get a lap of pure fear.

The shield of Achilles, the whole world hammered into metal, fields and dances and lawsuits.

Priam kissed the hands that killed his son. The oldest scene of shared grief we have.

Achilles' horses wept for Patroclus. Even the horses understood before the prince did.

As is the generation of leaves, so of men. The wind scatters some to the ground.

Carried out of it: rage is loud for eleven days. Grief is loud forever.