Note: This little work was of course inspired by Herodotus' account of the Battle of Thermopylae, as well as Homer's 'Iliad' and the recent release of the movie based on a comic-strip, "The 300." But the pitching point came when I saw a girl in the bookstore this afternoon looking through a picturebook in the Graphic Arts section of the Barnes & Noble. She was very fully absorbed even at that moment, and I noted that she was indeed very "artsy," having haird dyed in multi-colors. I considered striking up a conversation as I liked all the nude models on the covers of other art tomes, but am naturally intimidated by artsy girls, they being my favorite type, having an especially in particular of which I am very fond back at school. (Perhaps they are all the same?) In any event, I found her again shortly thereafter in the coffee shop and after reading some movie reviews in a local paper, made as if to speak with her from all the way across the room. Yet she had on ear phones, and was highly, nay, completely and utterly absorbed in her drawings. She was apparently an art student, and on her table were not only paper and sketch-books, but books explaining the anatomy of the human body. I thought then of Leonardo and how much his influence carried into the present day. Considered then to question as to these things of which I am most assuredly wholly ignorant. Being a quiet, unobtrusive and respectful boy, howeever, I did not interrupt her so as to disturb her from her moment of certain inspiration. And so I left her, but not before I observed her drawing for a few moments as she sketched the head of a woman, a very distinguished one with high helmet who I took to be the goddess, Athena. Returning to my seat, I decided that I in turn would endeavor, having failed at making her personal acquaintance, to work at my art, namely that of poetry. And so I began this bit of written sketch as an ode to the great Leonitus, a demi-god, as well as Athena, of which I was being reminded of her flashing eyes in my other readings. The artsy girl, by the by, also had a nice anatomy, of which I was well aware, even from a distance. Thank you, my mystery girl, for keeping me on track in my work. If I should ever see you again, perhaps at an exhibition in Georgetown of your works, I would very much like to make your acquaintance and perhaps even colloborate on some illustrated work of poetic verses, such as that of Gustave Dore's "Paradise Lost."