King Menelaus about Proteus

When I stood on Pharos
and locked my hand on Proteus,
he changed from man to snake to dragon
and terrible fear went through my thoughts.

I first sneaked up to him
and crawled to the place
where he was sleeping
and were nearly drowned,

when he changed into a gigantic octopus
and stuck on me with eight sucking arms
and drew me into the waves
and water went foaming over me.

When eventually he got his own form
he was finished with his illusions
and did forecast the truth and still,
nothing could make pretty Helen stay with me.

poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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