Page 2 the Lotus Eaters Part 2 of 2

The Lotus Eaters part 2 of 2 Fed them the one food they adored. In fact the only food they had in store. Lotus blossoms, lotus leaves and lotus wine from lotus trees. Lotus plants grew everywhere and made men’s heads dance and forget their own land, friends, families and reasons for being there Their cares were covered by the lotus spell Great Odysseus knew this well and had to pry his sailors loose from their hypnotic grasp Day and night his men passed in merriment lost at the mercy of the lotus power Life became a dream and Lotophagi their Island paradise In Ithica there’s poverty and war where battles bathed those days in blood Reminiscing and memories disappeared in the narcotic mist or never was and never missed Under the influence of this magical lotus flower, the hours draw on and on No more reminders of love or lore on their own home shores Brave and cunning Odysseus tricked his men with promises of virgins boarding their ship, in need of their handsome company, a simple day’s trip at sea for pleasures and picnics, that's all. The men were weak and hypnotized, fell as easy prey, victims to his lies. Still, he had to tie them down (for their own safety.) At sea they all got sick, wakened quickly from the captive hold of lotus girls and lotus ways. “This rock is not ours!” The great Odysseus yelled. “The spell has ended!” “Let us leave and let the withdrawal begin!” Ithica is a long way down but luck and fate is on our side. South winds will guide our way. Cape Malea is in sight. The Peloponnesus is at hand. A fresh breath of life headed westwards, a course that’s true and steady sailing for Ithica again. Odysseus by any other name is Ulysses. The lotus by any other name is narcotic and a rose by any other name could not smell sweeter…. Nor can freedom.