Song Of Odysseus Of Homer's Odyssey

As rosy dawn mounted her throne in the endless Ithacan sky, the man of pains beyond proper share now lay content, alone on his olive-wood bed. He rose up, dressed himself in clean, fresh linen, and took a gasp of finally pure Ithacan air.

From the welcoming threshold he walked, and gazed gently upon the tall ships with painted sails that roamed the dark seas.

From his post, he studied a graceful sea eagle, which grasped a struggling serpent in its mouth, stilled by an audible crack.

Up the eagle flew, above the churning seas, over the wind-swept shores, up the craggy rocks, and landed upon a running fissure in the jutting cliffs.

From within this fissure came the shrill calls of a fledgling, anticipating the generous meal. With this, Odysseus

“This just can't be true…”

“What gives you the right to return here, unscathed?”

“Why didn’t you fight to save them?”

A wave of immense sorrow washed over Odysseus. “Your friends were no lesser men than I,” he said. “We were brothers. When the noble king Menelaus needed men to fight for Helen, we did it together. When we needed to escape the cave of the wretched Polyphemus, we did so together. And when it was finally time to face the wrath of Zeus, we stood together.

Neither my sympathy, nor tears can bring your poor friends back. Your friends were no better than I.”

Not even this impassioned speech could stifle the growing mob that began to envelop, and Odysseus began to feel not disappointment, not disgust, but woeful anguish.

As this hostile mob threw slanderous insults at Odysseus, he did not defend himself, as he couldn’t bring himself to hurt the Ithacans any more.

His cheeks became wet with rolling tears, tears of heartbreak.

For a moment, his fierce facade was brought down, as he began to weep.

“Was this the true, victorious king of Ithaca?” Odysseus thought. “Could he have become ground

When revisiting the memories of his fallen warriors, who was it who lacked a dry cheek? While blinded by remorse and sorrow, it becomes far too easy to not recognize the hardships of others. My father also suffered great tragedy at Troy, and on the perilous journey home.

He watched as his mortal kinsmen were struck down, their spinning threads of life suddenly run out! His path is no less difficult, having survived.

Disillusioned by rage, you wonder why Odysseus would return, while your men are doomed to a watery grave. This is no fault of his. All fates are set by the gods, and his own lies on his native lands.

Odysseus took every measure to help your friends return.

He warned all about the dangers of the flock of the sun god, that not heeding would bring terrible destruction.

He cautioned all to plug their ears with wax, as to not hear the alluring song of the Sirens. On the beaches of Ismarus,

He warned to pack up the spoils of war and leave, before the Cicones could return and attack.

My father was careful to take all the advice he could receive, following through was the task of his men!

Your kin, they left this world not with a whimper,