Odysseus Bound Poem by David McLansky

They lashed their Captain to he mast;
Bound him tight as he did ask;
Then plugged their ears while at their benches
To block the singing of the wenches;
Their Captain always had one flaw:
Discontent to know but more;
And so they set themselves to task
To deafened row until they’d passed
The island of the wailing Sirens,
Rowing fast though arms were tiring;
And so they dipped their oars in haste
As if by Demons, Furies chased;
For well they knew the fateful tales
Of those who listened to their wails;
They neared the rock where Sirens dwell,
They beat their oars against the swell;
The sea turned black, the foam turned red,
They saw their Captain turn his head,
He heard the crying and the moans:
A sailor’s wife calling home,
Her husband stained by salt and sun,
Her only lover, her noble one.
Odysseus writhed against the rope,
His mortal mind, his reason smote;
A voice, a song had pierced his heart,
He surged to tear the ropes apart;
He hear a cry, a lover weeping,
Calling out, lonely, seeking,
Searching for a lover’s arms
To there within bestow her charms; .............................