Odysseus on Ogygia
There sits Odysseus, weeping, disconsolate, watching the ocean,
waiting for rescue he knows may not happen; is sure will not happen.
Why is he watching, and why is he waiting, for something impossible?
He watches because he knows she is watching the very same water.
Water before him and the water she watches are flowing together
blended forever; dividing the lovers, but never divorcing.
Thus the man sits by the ocean all day, to be near by the symbol
linking with Ithaca all of his longing for all that he loves.
Evening is calling his name and is drawing him back to the consort
owing Calypso, who saved him, her plaything now, almost a bond slave
obeying her whims and assenting to passions despite his decision,
sworn every night, and nightly re-sworn, but unsworn by dawn.
Nearing her forested, secretive place, he smells the split cedar
flaming with sweetwood and wafting like incense all over the island,
drawing him back to the cave where she sits, plying her shuttle,
singing and whispering spells that will make him hers until daybreak.
There lies her cave, all veiled by poplars and pungent with cypress
drawing the birds to a sleep they can't spurn, helplessly luring,
darkly consuming their vision of daytime in magical sleep.
He, like a wandering eagle, is drawn to his roost in her forest.
Dark is the mouth of her cave with the clusters of ripening grapes;
bubbling and sibilant rustle the fountains of sweetly sprung waters;
meadows are fading into the cool shadows perfumed with violets.
Even a god, he thought, would be seduced by such powerful beauties.
Waiting to greet him inside lay the goddess, lustrously, languidly
draped in her gown. Offering him to drink of the nectar
held in her golden cup, eat of ambrosia, warm by her fire.
Helpless as evening birds, drowning in darkness - soon he was sleeping.
Many the night Calypso has begged him -"Odysseus, please,
let me make you a god." Ever the same has come back his answer:
"Gods cannot love. Only we humans, who know we are dying
ever know Love is the daughter of Death." Thus spoke Odysseus.
Mark Allinson, Australia
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