Heroes
As the title of the poem indicates, "Heroes" is concerned with the formation and legacy of heroic figures. Creeley draws from Greek mythology and speaks of the men who have been viewed as heroes throughout history, including Hercules and Aeneas. Creeley notes that these men seeming to exist on a plane beyond that of the average human, commenting that they always seem to be on to the next battle or impossible task. He attempts to find some vulnerability in their stories, noting a moment where Aeneas asks Sibyl for assistance getting to and from the underworld to visit his father. He ends the poem by saying that as these stories live on, it is these instances of humanness that will inspire individuals to "labor."
Writing
Another main theme in the poem is writing. As Creeley makes apparent in the opening lines, these stories are passed down through writing. He not only mentions mythic heroes like Hercules and Aeneas, but also references Virgil. Throughout the poem, there is a clear awareness that the figures in these stories are shaped by the sensibility of a poet. Creeley makes a point of talking about Virgil because he wants to question the inherent value of passing down these stories and to find a way to apply them in a contemporary context. He seeks out the humanness in these stories because he seems to suggest that those are the moments that readers will look to for understanding. While not positioning himself above Virgil, he does imply that there is another way to write about these heroic figures that might render them more accessible to the average reader.
Mortality
One of the poem's most important themes is mortality. Creeley mentions this almost right away when he describes Aeneas "going into death." He highlights this again when he mentions Aeneas's quest to meet up with his father and his ability to be "human enough to die." This comes up one final time in the last lines when he states that mortality can compel individuals into action again. The poem suggests that mortality functions as a kind of equalizer. By showing this vulnerability, Aeneas is made into a more approachable human figure. At the same time, this humanness makes his actions and accomplishments all the more impressive.
