When I read Meleager’s poem about Heliodora’s death, at least in this poem, and he spoke of his tears for her because “Hades plucked her, plucked her away,” it reminded me of Eric Clapton’s Tears in Heaven because he wrote that song with the inspiration of his four year old son falling out of a manhattan apartment window, being plucked from him. Both of them “Wailing, wailing, … weep for you, my love, even among the dead,” and “begging please.” Furthermore, Meleager directly says that he has “Tears for you, Heliodora” while Clapton says that “I know there’ll be no more tears in heaven” which implies he’s crying for his son. Given how tragic the event was, there is a connection between Heliodora being in “full bloom” and Clapton’s son being so young.
I think the biggest difference between these two pieces is who they are singing to. While it is one thing to love a lover, it is another to lose your four year old son. Additionally, one is an ancient poem with unconfirmed historical accuracy, and the other is a tragic story of one of the greatest guitar players we know, so I feel more passion and more moved from Clapton’s song, despite the strong parallels.
(Meleager G-P 56)
“Tears for you , Heliodora, down through the earth into Hades, I offer you these traces of love, tears bitter wept.”
“Wailing, wailing, I Meleager weep for you, my love, even among the dead–an empty thank-you down toward Acheron”
“O God! where’s the girl I long for? Hades plucked her, plucked her away, ash stained a flower in full bloom”