ODYSSEUS
I think that the great myths and
stories live in us and that is their truth and their value. The tale
of Odysseus' wanderings told in Homer's great poem is surely one of
those stories. This poem is a tribute to it and an expression of
these ideas. The expression "in-viewed" refers to the
belief that Homer was "blind" and had "inner"
seeing.
ODYSSEUS
Yes, I believe you
lived,
Odysseus.
For
everyone like you has striven
in
ever-varied living,
long-voyaging
upon the windy sea of life.
Did
the travelled, in-viewed poet
know
everything and nothing varies,
know
everyone who lives traverses
each
evanescent wave to venture on
a
voyage, vast or small?
Take
this day.
Do
I not sail
upon
an ocean of the hours,
a
sea of shifting circumstances?
Do
I not view
its
marvels and its miracles?
Do
I not seek
with
skill, with daring to survive
the
variation of events,
a
treachery of islands?
To
cross a simple road is navigation
between
steel monsters bearing death...
I
take my breath
upon
the wind;
I
veer between
the
fatal outer error's vortex
and
the long-armed,
inner
creature of the nightmare.
I
blind the ancient eye of trance
with
glowing-pointed reason's lance.
And
Circe calls alluringly;
and
strange-voiced sirens sing to me.
And
still I voyage, ever-seeking
the
home within the heart of all.
The
poet knew the image woven,
Penelope's
great tapestry of song,
the
meanings that the moments give.
Yes, Odysseus,
I believe you live.
No comments:
Post a Comment