The Sirens

It is said that there is an island in the midst of a fog-shrouded sea Where there are mystical creatures, which no mortal man has seen; Creatures that sing so enchantingly that they entrance all those who hear; Creatures that sing with such longing that they banish all memories and fear; Songs that lure ships to their dark death against the rocks and the crags; Songs that lure crews to their last breaths, to be food for fish and for crabs. It is said that a ship of Achaeans sailed past this forsaken shore; Sailed past this fog-shrouded island as its crew returned home from the war. Odysseus sailed past this island in the midst of a vast lonely sea; Sailed past the legended island where the Sirens were once said to be. And Odysseus said he would hear it, he’d hear the Sirens’ dread song, And ordered his crew to bind him, fast to the mast tight and strong. Then the ears of the crew were deafened with wax And they rowed with their arms and they rowed with their backs; Rowed hard and rowed fast till the danger was past; They rowed till their hearts nearly collapsed. And when they were safe and they asked what he’d heard, Odysseus wept but spoke not a word. He could only look back towards the island Where the song of the Sirens he’d heard. Odysseus alone returned to his home over the white sea foam. Gave up his wild sea-faring life, lived quiet with son and with wife. But every night for the rest of his life, as Odysseus lay in his bed, He heard the song of the Sirens, he still heard their song in his head. He heard the song still and he ached to be on that distant, fog-shrouded island In the midst of the vast lonely sea.