This is a local, archival version of a particularly tricky MeFi post. I put enough work into it that I wanted a copy at home.

Click – MeFites, click the link of Wolfgang‘s new endeavor,
murderous, doomed, that cast as Achaeans countless actors,
hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls,
blonde-tressed, open-helmed *. Will careers be made carrion,
feasts for the dogs and birds,
as the time of Bush is moving toward its end?

Begin, crows, when the trailers first were aired,
Agamemnon, some guy, and Brad Pitt, Achilles.

]]>*(helmet design changes were needed so’s we plebes c’n, like, see Brad’s purdy face).

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It’s a crude riff on the first lines of Robert Fagles’ much-admired Iliad translation.

Here’s how it really goes:

Rage — Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus’ son Achilles,
murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,
hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls,
great fighters’ souls, but made their bodies carrion,
feasts for the dogs and birds,
and the will of Zeus was moving toward its end.
Begin, Muse, when the two first broke and clashed,
Agamemnon lord of men and brilliant Achilles.

A rough syllable count is recorded below, and you can see that I’ve worked to make the twain similar. 14
14
13 (14) 12
6
11
10
14

I personally am further entertained by the generally accepted idea that the folks who declaimed Homeric verse improvised, within limits, as appropriate to their audience. I’m glad to join in.