Ocean and Calypso
Sweet Nymph and Open Sea
I, Laertes’ son, Odysseus, king of Ithaka have been stranded on this wretched island for longer than my bewildered mind can remember, against my free will by Calypso. Calypso means well. She shows me love and wants to make me her immortal husband and give me the eternal youth. But I cannot accept her generosity as I long for my home, my dearest Penelope and bravest Telemakhos. As I sit on my stone at seaward, tears brim in my eyes while thinking about how the sweet days of my lifetime are running out in anguish over my exile. For long ago Calypso ceased to please me, though I try to resist her and her desire I lay with her each night, for she compels me, I know. But now, now the day has come as I sit here on the rocky shore breaking my own heart, groaning, with eyes wet , scanning the bare horizon of the sea, reminiscing about my past life. She stood near me in her beauty and started speaking. I couldn’t believe my ears, I couldn’t believe the words exuding out of her perfect mouth. “You’re going home. No need to grieve, no need to feel your life consumed here. I have pondered it and I shall help you go. Come and cut down high timber for a raft so you can ride her on the misty sea. Come I’ll help you.” For all I have endured, I couldn’t help but to shudder. Was this a dream of some kind, have I gone completely insane or is she really telling me that I am free of this exile, to go back to Ithaka and my beloved Family. I could not help but question her, “After all these years A helping hand? O goddess, what guile is hidden here? A raft you say to cross the Western Ocean Rough waters and unknown? Seaworthy ships that glory in god’s wind will never cross it. I take no raft you grudge me out to sea. Or yield me first a great oath, if I do, to work no more enchantment to my harm.”
At my words, the beautiful Nymph Calypso smiled and answered sweetly, laying her hand upon me. “What a dog you are. And not for nothing learned,
I, Laertes’ son, Odysseus, king of Ithaka have been stranded on this wretched island for longer than my bewildered mind can remember, against my free will by Calypso. Calypso means well. She shows me love and wants to make me her immortal husband and give me the eternal youth. But I cannot accept her generosity as I long for my home, my dearest Penelope and bravest Telemakhos. As I sit on my stone at seaward, tears brim in my eyes while thinking about how the sweet days of my lifetime are running out in anguish over my exile. For long ago Calypso ceased to please me, though I try to resist her and her desire I lay with her each night, for she compels me, I know. But now, now the day has come as I sit here on the rocky shore breaking my own heart, groaning, with eyes wet , scanning the bare horizon of the sea, reminiscing about my past life. She stood near me in her beauty and started speaking. I couldn’t believe my ears, I couldn’t believe the words exuding out of her perfect mouth. “You’re going home. No need to grieve, no need to feel your life consumed here. I have pondered it and I shall help you go. Come and cut down high timber for a raft so you can ride her on the misty sea. Come I’ll help you.” For all I have endured, I couldn’t help but to shudder. Was this a dream of some kind, have I gone completely insane or is she really telling me that I am free of this exile, to go back to Ithaka and my beloved Family. I could not help but question her, “After all these years A helping hand? O goddess, what guile is hidden here? A raft you say to cross the Western Ocean Rough waters and unknown? Seaworthy ships that glory in god’s wind will never cross it. I take no raft you grudge me out to sea. Or yield me first a great oath, if I do, to work no more enchantment to my harm.”
At my words, the beautiful Nymph Calypso smiled and answered sweetly, laying her hand upon me. “What a dog you are. And not for nothing learned,