As a garden poppy, burst into red bloom, bends, drooping its head to one side, weighed down by its full seeds and a sudden spring shower, so Gorgythion's head fell limp over one shoulder, weighed down by his helmet.

As a garden poppy, burst into red bloom, bends,
drooping its head to one side, weighed down
by its full seeds and a sudden spring shower,
so Gorgythion’s head fell limp over one shoulder,
weighed down by his helmet.

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 8, lines 349-353. This epic simile describes the death of Gorgythion, one of a number of Trojans hit by an arrow from the great Greek archer Teucer. His head is likened to a garden poppy bursing into red bloom and drooping to one side.

Homer Quotes