Far from this antique bay and moor,
your plaintive voice sung for my soul,
and lifted me to Ithaca's shore.
Can longing's echoes loudly toll,
and invite me to your front door,
like gods that decreed from a scroll.
I sailed to Troy and far beyond,
to go and fight an epic war.
Men joined, forming paired, loving bonds
to be their bright and glowing North Star.
I took a boy, a vibrant blonde,
with whom I shared many battle scars.
With Poseidon, the fates between,
the sea opposed us. But I loved
the youth, Penelope my Queen.
Please forgive us, my loyal dove,
and spare us from your jealous spleen,
so Zeus sends no bolts from above.
I loved you, but desire's arrow,
against my willpower pierced my heart!
Compelled by Cupid's dart and bow,
we made love. To honor royal art,
I cede my throne: — but you can't know,
loving you both tears me apart.
Without you, I was forced to grow?
Categories:
odysseus, journey, love, love hurts,
Form: Lyric
My friends all dead, Poseidon's gaze falls last
Upon me, broken, clinging to a raft,
He low’rs his fist, and shatters present, past
And future… now a yards-long broken shaft
Is all I have to save me from the sea,
I choke and spit, and swim for shore -- ‘tis near --
Then find the Cyclops swimming after me…
Though blind, he had pursued me; rage and fear
Had made him stupid, and the splintered beam
I grip, I thrust into his open maw
“Poseidon! Next, he dies, or you redeem
Me from the sea, and from dark Hades’ craw!*”
Then falls a sudden calm… Cyclops is gone
I swim to shore – ‘tis Ithaka, at dawn!
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*In the Greek legend, Polyphemus, the Cyclops, was said to be the Son of Poseidon
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2/12/2019
Submitted for: Movie Magic Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Gregory R Barden
Movie: 'The Odyssey', Character: Odysseus
Categories:
odysseus, adventure, courage, god, hero,
Form: Sonnet
THE ODYSSEY; HOMER
Perhaps,He'd been dead,caught at the claws of the sea:
The Akhaians had loan him to the whales,a meal.
The battle of troy weighed,threw him out of balance,
Cowardly rugged he'd given in,no longer stance.
Perhaps he'd journey along the route of Pylos,
Or zeus(father of all gods and men),had bethroted him to the Harlot.
Suitors bewitched by penelope's beauty,
drenched in waeve-trick,swimming in folly.
Telemakhos, astound at the ageless effort,
Perhaps his father's return is the dying carrot.
But woah!,Athena(the grey-eyed goddess),had had her way,
Oh see! Odyssey,the forgotten,to Ithaka,made his way!
18:02:23:13:40
Categories:
odysseus, allusion,
Form: Sonnet
Does true love is worth waiting for?
Where are you my Odysseus?
For love and eternity I will be yours,
I will love thee for my whole life
Will see no one but you as my true love…
My heart will wait for you to come
Even 20 years may past, I will never run
For your love I will never seize from waiting
Even it will take long for my longings…
I know our love is for eternity
You and I are meant to be
For an everlasting love is our destiny
I will be yours and you will be mine eternally…
Come to me soon and let’s be free
I will love you wholeheartedly
For I your Penelope
Will wait for you devotedly…
Categories:
odysseus, feelings, love, missing,
Form: Prose Poetry
The night is dark, and in here it is darker still
I try to sleep, but in vain, for my heart beats so fast
Some can rest, and others are standing guard
Ready for the battle, ready for the light of day.
A man that I barely know; is sharpening his sword so slow
I hear and feel the slide of the stone, and I know that he knows that it is sharp
But he sharpened still, perhaps to hide his fear
Or perhaps to remind himself of his courage in battles past, and to come.
The wood at my back is warm and comforting
Pure and real, something to touch, and to bring luck.
I can even see the grain of the wood in my mind, the tree
That once stood tall, and sheltered, and warmed.
We have used deceit, we have given; to harm
Our enemies are pleased with this gift from the gods
This gift that stands wonderfully tall inside their gates.
So big, a giant, a sightless horse, a steed.
…Later, we feel the wood grow warmer,
As the light of day slides through the gaps in the side;
Saddling with the task of bluntening our swords
On our Trojan foe outside; as we mean to,
As we thirty follow Odysseus, to victory.
Categories:
odysseus, men, military, war,
Form: Epic
Over three thousand-five hundred years ago
There was a story that was always told
How a man fought wars and defeated foes
And traveled for twenty years. How strong, how bold?
Many miles that hero went
Going to Troy and the Aegean Sea
Sleeping in hulls of ships and war tents
Fighting by Achilles. How scared were thee?
He tested the gods like Apollo and Poseidon
He only wanted a voyage home again
But the sun-god’s heat, the sea-god’s triton
Made it hard for him. How to win?
He built a mighty Trojan Horse
And put thick wax on his ears
The journey was long and coarse
It cost many friends. How many tears?
He returned home with happiness hidden
Only recognized by man’s best friend
And his wife blocked suitors and had them forbidden
He returned to his wife. How did it end?
Categories:
odysseus, adventure, mystery, sea, timehome,
Form: I do not know?