“See the World”

See the World

By Jason C. Merriam ’04

My family were herdsmen, from way back, As far as anyone could remember. Chasing horses, cattle, raising livestock. This was my whole life, and I hated it.

Clan squabbles for generations, Fighting over water, pasture, animals. Marrying a cousin to keep your land. Born there, live there, die there, pathetic.

Then the King came. A fine warrior, Old One Eye got us motivated, Opened us up to new horizons. Gathered our spears, trained calvary.

Next thing I know, I’m in blasted Greece, Gold in my hand, wine in my belly. Life is good, the women are better. Couple of years later, we’re moving.

The Boy has us cross the Sea to fight The Great King and his huge armies. Outnumbered always, but never outwitted. Alexander led us to countless victories.

I helped build the siege towers at Tyre. Walked through the monuments of Egypt. Stood in Phalanx at Gaugamela, Crushing the Persian chariot charge.

Darius and his armies fled before us. We gave chase, collecting treasure Beyond my wildest imagination. The poor bastard killed by his own men.

Our Lad became the Great King. His ambition endless, he wanted to Create something that had never been, Melding East with West, it did not work.

We were fine with the riches and women, Taking foreign wives, having children.

Founding new cities was exciting. Life was good for almost all of us.

Alexander wanted more than that though. He needed to conquer, needed us To help him reach the end of the world. So, we went. He was our General.

I climbed sheer cliffs in Bactria. Swam across wide rivers in India. Marched across miserable jungles. Fought against towering Gray Giants.

All in the name of one man’s Glory. Fortune favors the bold, the meek survive. We were finished, bled enough, died enough. We wanted peace, most wanted to go home.

Our Great King became a God among Men. He wanted us to bow down before him. Accept Easterners as our comrades in arms. We told him no, he was furious.

In the end, though, he understood. He remembered when Persepolis burned. He saw the blood of Cleitus on his hands. He let us go and headed for Babylon.

By luck, I went by sea with Nearchus, While my friends perished in the desert Of Gedrosia. Even Alexander Could not conquer Death in battle.

I made my way to Egypt’s wonders, Serving with Soter into old age. Such a beautiful place to find peace. I never made it home to Macedon.

I lived without regret, saw the world In all its splendor and beauty. Earned my scars inside and out. The world will never see an age like this.