Not an Elegy for Mike Brown

Most of the poem’s symbols carry the theme of mythology and the Trojan War, but the central, organizing image is Troy itself. The extended metaphor begins with a reference to “a white girl” (Line 12), or Helen of Troy, who is evidently worthy of greater attention than are the countless Black murder victims. Accordingly, there is then the Black “Troy” (Line 14), who contrasts with Helen because he is murdered and forgotten instead of immortalized through memory and myth.

The speaker then pleas, “are we not worthy / of a city and ash?” (Lines 15-16), alluding to the city of Troy burning down during the war. Further, “[are we not worthy] of 1000 ships / launched because we are missed?” (Lines 16-17). These lines move beyond Homer’s Iliad in a reference to Christopher Marlowe’s 17th-century play, The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus. The play includes the dead spirit of Helen as a character, and Dr. Faustus (who has summoned her spirit) asks, in some of the most renowned lines of English literature: “Was this the face that launched a thousand ships / And burnt the topless towers of Ilium[?]” Faustus’s description of Helen refers to her legendary physical beauty, but it also relays her timeless, celebrated status.