The Battle of Thermopylae : A Ballad

Herodotus wrote down the tale,
It covers several pages.
A true account or merely spin?
It must have taken ages.

Why did the Spartans choose to fight
Against such hopeless odds?
Courageous yes, and praise is due
But was the legend right?

Why did the Spartans choose to die
Though fighting was their life?
To flee in shame was not their game
They gloried in the strife.

With scant regard for common sense,
And seemingly no fear,
Sparta led the stand right here,
And battle did commence.

The Persians thought they’d give it up,
They watched them with some care.
The Spartans seemed a funny lot,
They brushed and combed their hair!

A traitor led the Persians through,
Around the narrow pass.
Surrounded now the Spartans fell
All were slain, alas.

A victory for Xerxes yes,
But on the other hand,
It rightly is regarded as
A most heroic stand.

But soon the Persian hopes were dashed,
At Plataea they did meet.
Their fleet destroyed their armies smashed,
They fled home in defeat.

“Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by,
That here, obedient to their words, we lie.”

The Battle of Thermopylae