The Odyssey: A Modern Sequel

  looked far on fields and mountains, and her spirit soared.

  The man of many sorrows clasped his swelling neck

  to thrust down through his throat again the rising groan, 455

  and in his guts he heard harsh laughter and a bull’s roar:

  “Archer, she has a proud soul, and I like her well!

  She follows in your footsteps now, and sprints for freedom;

  I am your god who gives her freely my full blessing!”

  He listened to his god with wrath, fought savagely, 460

  and sought to choke that voice within his star-burnt chest,

  but God outmatched the black beast, and the archer sweetened:

  “The god of freedom cries within me, and I obey.

  O free soul, I rejoice when you sprout wings to fly

  or open up new roads, or take a new virginity. 465

  Helen, God in me cries: ‘Farewell, and a good voyage!’

  And yet, before we part, we have one duty more;

  listen to what I’ve thought; O star-eyed, help me now!

  Let’s break down slavery’s doors with axes or with wiles,

  then both of us can say farewell on the warm embers.” 470

  But the sad decoy-bird with bitterness complained

  that thus, dear God, she was abandoned ruthlessly

  as though she’d lost already the form that maddened men;

  and then, in spite, she shattered with her rosy palms

  the ivory lily-charm that gleamed about her throat. 475

  But the heart-reader with compassion read her pain,

  approached her gently, softly touched her apple knees,

  and counseled her to let her tears burst into light.

  Helen rejoiced, and softly touched his graying hair:

  “My dear friend, I shall always hold your dreadful glance 480

  deep in my heart to feed me with undying fire,

  for when one dares to break his bread and salt with you

  a world-destructive fire forever eats his heart.

  Now speak, confess, and tell me all your crafty plans,

  for I too long to free myself from this vile bed.” 485

  With lowered voice the archer then approached her ears,

  rose-shelled, and there unfolded his perfidious trap.

  The king with all his slaves, his gods, his famous fleet,

  whirled in a dance of scorpions in his fiery head,

  their bracelets melted in his brain, their earrings dropped, 490

  wildfire flared, the castle’s old housekeeping crone,

  and Helen, a baby at her breast, glowed in the fields.

  The lady of lovely thighs listened in silent thought,

  and when the pitiless killer stopped, she burst in tears

  and ached for the doomed world as for her only son. 495

  When noontime dripped on earth and shadows huddled close,

  the archer passed beyond the castle’s twisting halls,

  the courts and the bronze towers, passed the outer gate,

  and holding his mute heart sped swiftly toward the harbor town.

  To right and left on mountain slopes the vineyards rose, 500

  and vintage grapes leant on the earth like full-grown babes

  that curly-haired and big-thighed women stooped to clasp;

  the fragrance of the must-filled air, the vineyard’s fire,

  awakened the blind blood and secret ancient anguish;

  thighs of young men and maidens smelled of lechery, 505

  and as the dark dusk spread and coupling shadows mingled,

  the burning lust grew savage, bitterness overflowed

  as though the male god died and made all women widows.

  But the world-wanderer quickly passed, sped down the road

  and found his friends carousing in a humble tavern; 510

  the harbor women sat astride their stony knees,

  gleaming like pure-white pigeons by the river reeds,

  and a tall Negro dragged his feet and served them wine.

  Granite, that gallant woman-chasing tower, half-shut

  his lashes, twisted his long raven-black mustache 515

  and thought once more of his old life until the wine

  rose like a large flame-flickering snake and licked his brain.

  “Fellows, I’ve never wanted more in this false world

  than a good knife, a true, trustworthy, heartfelt friend,

  and on my knees, astride, a wanton laughing girl.” 520

  Highlander Rocky heaved a sigh and then replied:

  “I’ve tasted friendship, brother, buckled on my swords,

  nourished my early youth on many a woman’s breast,

  but, O my brothers, the most precious treasure of all

  is still the archer’s talons when they crack my skull!” 525

  Then Kentaur burst with laughter, thrust one hairy hand

  around a wanton’s hips, and seized and drained his cup:

  “Don’t break your heads, my lads! Everything has its place,

  wine, women, song and faithful friends and shining weapons;

  here in the upper world, the demon has matched things well, 530

  they’re all good, and by God, I never could choose between them!”

  The piper sat astride the wine jars, played his pipe,

  nor had a care for friends, nor headaches for young girls,

  for with the wine’s sweet dizziness his feathery brains

  fluttered like moths and vanished in the holy light. 535

  Like a lank worm who had completed death’s full round,

  his drunken soul had broken through the tomb of flesh

  and lightly danced in wilderness to a song’s grace.

  Captain Clam wrung his wine-soaked beard, when all at once

  a drunken vision struck him and his wits spun round: 540

  “Quick with your hands, my friends, drink up! Give joy and take it!

  Let all men’s poisoned troubles sink to the sea’s depths

  like savage snake-green eels, and nevermore return,

  for I’ve grown old with plundering lands and sailing seas,

  sitting with my close-bosom friends, drinking sweet wine; 545

  but never have I drunk, I swear, such wine as this

  wherein I see a tall three-masted sea-cap sailing!”

  His speech ran on till a dark shadow drenched the walls,

  a great black shadow with a lofty sea-cap loomed

  till all, with joy and laughter, leapt up toward the door. 550

  The harbor girls took wing and fled, the Negro vanished,

  and then Odysseus laughed, and turned to his old cronies:

  “Your good health, friends! I see you’ve fought the battle well!

  No one, by God, can match us when we swing together,

  for then we have the guts of lions, the eyes of asps; 555

  but, as I’ve thought a thousand times, when you’re alone,

  you fall flat on your snouts and knees in harbor pubs,

  sit on your asses all night long and forget God!”

  Rocky alone grew crimson, stooped with heavy shame,

  but his old friends burst out with laughter fearlessly 560

  until the cross-eyed piper poked his head and chirped:

  “All-knowing rogue, it’s you who’ve taught us here on earth

  to merge wine, death and kisses and to mix them well;

  double is life, double our cups, and double our faces;

  that’s why my right eye glances left, my left eye right.” 565

  All the companions grinned, and the soul-snatcher joyed

  to be received with glee, to find his friends untroubled,

  waiting, with wine cups held aloft, his dreadful news.

  With both hands then he grasped the wooden bowl they filled,

  and as he gulped the Cretan wine, admired his face 570

  that sailed, a fox or lion, deep i
n the sacred drink.

  He burned, his mind whirled like a wind round wretched life,

  and when he spoke, thick wine-drops dripped from his gray beard:

  “Don’t listen, friends, to what I’ve said! I’ve joked and teased!

  I’m overjoyed to watch how you carouse and sing, 575

  for all I see about me, women, wine, and meat,

  pubs, crippled Negroes, and the sea’s wild wind, shall rise

  to gallant deeds within you when I give the sign.

  As though you were my bodies, I caress you all,

  for I rule seven bodies, I clasp seven souls. 580

  We’ve eaten, drunk and kissed, until I think it’s time

  earth’s other face should glow now to refresh our souls;

  comrades, let’s shut the tavern door and talk our hearts out.”

  Rocky leapt up and shut the door, the wine cups flowed,

  and Kentaur passed out hunks of finely roasted rabbit. 585

  Their leader’s eyes flashed fire, and all with longing swarmed

  thickly about his pregnant head and heard with care:

  “Our God craves much and suffers much and hungers much!

  Whoever said he pities man and stoops with care

  for fear he’ll crush man’s soul that sprawls before his feet? 590

  I’ve traced him step by step with care, now listen closely:

  We both slipped slyly in the castle’s crooked horns,

  he sped before, I stalked behind, flames flared between us,

  and as we hid behind the columns and clutched our hearts,

  we both cried out, man’s dreadful heart and God himself: 595

  They eat on golden plates, they vomit in silver bowls,

  their full holds brim with fruit and grain, their thighs with women,

  the time has come for earth to gape and grind them pure!’ ”

  The dexterous man fell silent but his snake eyes gleamed;

  lusts, wars and hungers flared up in their wolf-pack’s chests, 600

  they drank until the mind, that laughless guard, shrank up,

  they broke the boundaries of what coward man would dare,

  and all their inner demons burst in song and dance.

  Their bodies sprouted wings and flew, pure visions soared

  when the old rusted hinges of their brains crashed open 605

  till, on desire’s bosom, truth and dream were merged.

  The knowing man had waited for this holy hour,

  and reaching out his hands, he drew their heads together:

  “Eh, hunting hounds of God, how well you wag your tails,

  how well your nostrils sniff the least faint trace in air! 610

  Wine, kisses, god, and fire ascend in rows like loot;

  now let each soul rise up and grab whatever it can:

  each soul will show its rank by what it seeks to plunder.”

  The piper hiccuped then: “The strongest soul—excuse me—

  scorns to grab even the most brilliant spoil of all!” 615

  Odysseus swerved and pushed the tables until they shook:

  “Look where you leap, or you’ll fall flat on your face one day!”

  The cowardly piper swallowed his tongue and quaked with fear,

  but Kentaur pitied the fierce wolf-pack’s warbling runt:

  ‘This is your fate, deaf wretched nightingale, to drink 620

  at dragon-wells and turn into a dragon’s child.”

  But the man-killer poured the wine jugs in their cups

  that their small hearts might broaden to receive his mind;

  it was high time to put the unbridled brain in order:

  “I’m not inexpert nor a novice; I’ve learned through pain 625

  that fire is good when governed by man’s inner light.

  It’s best to weigh things well before we plunge to deeds;

  we’ll scatter soon like strangers through the castle halls;

  take heart, play dumb, we’ve never seen or known each other;

  if they should get their wind up, not even one small grain, 630

  dear glutton, will be found of your once greasy guts!

  Only the arch-eyed beauty knows our secret, friends;

  she’ll aid and shield us sleeplessly with craft and wiles.”

  Granite lost patience then and cried in a harsh voice:

  “All well and good, but quick now, friend, give us our tasks!” 635

  The archer gazed on his proud slender hound and said:

  “Granite, you’ll stand guard at the inner gate and hold

  the heavy keys that open and close our destiny;

  Rocky, you’ll scour the mountains with the wild game hunters

  and track those shining bulls used in their wanton games. 640

  Orpheus, dream-taken poet, you’ll sit at the king’s feet

  and jest with him like a court’s fool to calm his heart,

  but you, my piper, with sweet flutes and magic tunes

  shall lead him far astray and snare him in black pits.

  Kentaur, you’ll plunge to the dark vaults, as you like best, 645

  and there divert the savage slavehands night and day,

  feeding their pallid hearts so that the world won’t vanish;

  it pleases me to use your roistering good heart

  like kindling wood for the destruction of all mankind.

  You, Captain Clam, will stay in port and make new friends; 650

  you’ll find your task at first most sweet, and welcome, too,

  but it may burst about you filled with death at last

  and then it may be difficult, friend, to save your head.”

  Captain Clam laughed and seized the white top of his skull:

  “I’ve only one head on this desolate earth. It’s yours!” 655

  The harsh man-killer smiled and grabbed his friend’s white head

  as though he thought to set up occupation there,

  but sighed and rose, and all his wolf-pack leapt at once

  till their small Mother Earth creaked to contain them all.

  Laughing, they started then to share the world between them: 660

  “My share,” yelled Captain Clam, “will be the sea for wife;

  our two beasts of the wood will share earth fifty-fifty,

  the guzzler here will take the wine casks for his share,

  and our unlaughing smith shall set his forge on fire

  and melt down golden gods and bracelets to sharp swords!” 665

  The piper found an opening and piped up once more:

  “Brothers, you’ve shared the world between you. Health and joy!

  But what about my cut? Am I the hairless fool?

  And yet, of all of you, it’s I who gain the most,

  for with no wretched vineyards, farms, or business cares 670

  I keep my head unhooked and play with all the world.

  I sit enthroned on freedom’s stone in a far corner,

  and as I watch you all pass by, weighed down with cares,

  I laugh, stretch my mind taut and shoot my darting words

  straight to the mark, all claws and light, until you faint 675

  and enter like pale shades into my lofty song;

  this is my mind’s great share, I want no other cut!”

  The archer laughed and finally opened the tavern door:

  “Good going, piper, you’ve grabbed the lion’s share in truth!

  But, friends, it’s I who must complain, for where’s my share? 680

  Where do I best fit in so that my mind won’t choke?

  The sea won’t hold me, honest earth now spews me forth,

  and the vast sky is much too empty for man’s spirit.”

  Then Rocky wrung his wine-soaked beard and spoke with pluck:

  “Colossal man, you know the world can’t hold you now, 685

  and yet your proud soul scorns to take another prize.”

  And talking thus they sca
ttered in the harbor din;

  the stars were dewdrops on night’s black-leaved marigold,

  in their wine-groggy eyes the earth and heavens shook,

  and from that earthquake the small toy of earth was smashed: 690

  all workshops, towers and houses tumbled, walls crashed down,

  and all the roofs of earth like drunken bonnets’ swayed,

  for each friend turned to feathers, and earth sprouted seven wings!

  That same night Phida crept to the seducer’s threshold;

  the moon was late in rising, and in flickering starlight 695

  as her eyes glittered and her gap-teeth shone with greed,

  Odysseus saw her laughing on the limestone tiles.

  That night the bronzesmith and the ironsmith worked with stealth,

  the palace noises round them thundered, laughter rang,

  and drums of Negroes thumped in the lewd archons’ rooms. 700

  Sunburnt and lean, the thighs of Phida darkly gleamed

  on the rough shining limestones, and between her knees

  she wedged her chin, as square and grappling as a beast’s.

  Odysseus suddenly reached his hands and with his nails

  dug deep in her hard skull and squeezed it silently 705

  till Phida shuddered with the eagle’s brute caress.

  These two wild beasts had no great need for squandering words,

  their souls merged mutely like two hungry wolves who prowled

  a penfold’s walls and spied the countryside around.

  They crouched and growled in stealth, and in the misty dark 710

  both pairs of eyes flashed flame, and their bold brains entwined

  like two battalions that joined forces and closed ranks.

  Phida stooped down and spoke to him of curious ships

  with sun and moon on sails that on the salt sea skimmed

  and to far-distant shores had brought the joyful news; 715

  in a short time the blue sea would be filled with masts:

  “Whatever you see, gods, walls, and flesh, will shake and fall

  because the heart, too, shakes in man’s dark hidden places.”

  “That’s true,” the archer cried, then beat the earth with his fists,

  and said no more, but deep in the world’s sluggish roots 720

  he heard unnumbered hearts that brought the earthquake closè.

  The first white rooster crowed, and in the wakening courts 722

  a blue-green radiance poured till suddenly in its light

  the pallid king appeared surrounded by fat eunuchs;

  he leant his groggy head against a cedar column, 725

  then groaned, and retched till his rich food spilled on the tiles.