The Odyssey Redux Part I - From Trozan Shores To Aeolian Isle

Now gather around, ye lusty lads, a tale I'll tell to thee Of jealous Gods, monsters and ill-fated men who sailed the sea. My tale is set in hoary times when fickle fate was by divine decree. Then men were men who faced all odds, much sturdier than you or me. It was the time when the Trozans fell, King Priam's pride was turned to dust, Odysseus' ruse of Trozan Horse, made him of the God's accursed; For Apollo's faith was crushed by heel of Grecian fleet, And rape and pillage, with lust and greed, was rampant on the street But fair Odysseus, with wanton fill, mindful of the weep and wail With his Grecian hordes and a dozen ships to Ithaca did set sail With hope-filled heart, with fair Penelope and Telemachus in mind His course to fair Ithaca was charted and well and truly defined. But fate, I did say, was most fickle-minded, and had deviously contrived A fate which would try their grit and test how they fought, and survived. And so the ships driven willy-nilly by the North Westers and South Easters Drove them by predetermined chance to the Land of the Lotus Eaters. The Lotus Eaters were a race which the world forgot in their drugged state With food of the Nelumbo, of a species time forgot, but did their hunger sate, And drugged their minds to exclusion of world, to family, and other cares. Odysseus , abstinent was he,, dragged them back on board, with crew unawares. Thence post-haste did the ships set sail and sighted fair isle with fatted cattle, Fair game for stocking provisions, but first a Titan Cyclops they had to battle. Odysseus, full of guile knew that force would lead to hapless naught, So crept he in, midst cattle din, and there sleeping Polyphemus sought. And there as the Cyclops soundly slept, blinded his eye, which was but one. Polyphemus, Titan, unbeknownst to Odysseus, was Poseidon's beloved son. With prideful boast Ithacan King, in derision his name did daringly decree. Wild with rage, and dreadful pain, did Polyphemus call his father from the sea. Deeply hurt at deceit and guile by which the Grecians blinded his offspring, Poseidon did curse and said, " May stormy seas and whirly winds calamity bring" So tossed about were the dozen ships, windblown and tossed on heaving seas. With heavy heart and tired limb went they to Aeolus, the Wind God there to please. ~11 Jun 2016~