Thoughts from Penelope during Odysseus' travels in Homer's "Odyssey" |
The oceans seem so calm It’s full of light and song Our son has grown to be so strong If you could only see him my love Oh! The joy of seeing your eyes again! Yet this just adds to my pain Why did you ever leave? How is war compared to your home? Where everyone loves you though Where everyone admires you so Where I, your Penelope, bore you a child The very fruit of our love he is Oh, if you could see how proud he is of you! If you could only hear him call you “papa” You would be so proud For he is just like you But off you went to war! War that ended long ago You have still not returned home Why is this not so? Have you found someone else? Another woman to take my place? Who is she; tell me, who kisses you goodnight? Who is she; tell me, who cooks for you right now? What does she have, that I don’t? Or is it that you are not alive anymore? No! I will not believe this lie Never shall I be the woman of another You alone stole my heart With one word, you made me fall Do not ask why But I loved you first And I always will My Odysseus, you are still here To me you are alive It’s because of my love for you That I have survived The day you return I shall scream of joy Is this day far away still? Oh Zeus! Please let him come back… |