The King of Ithaca

For Writer’s Island combining the prompts of “Legend” and “The Return”;

Have you heard

Of the King of Ithaca

Who, despite feigning madness

Still was a part of the Trojan War?

Have you heard of he

Who jumped onto his helmet first

To avoid being the first to die?

Have you heard of his silver tongue

And his sharp wit

That made Achilles, the great warrior, pay heed?

Odysseus, they called him

Father to Telemachus and husband to Penelope – the shrewd

She who outwitted men for twenty years spinning the same shroud;

Odysseus, the canny, the wily, the cunning, the brave

Odyssesus, he who helped defeat Troy

With the idea of a wooden horse;

Odysseus – he who escaped Cyclops

And the one eyed giant

Tying himself to a few sheep;

Odysseus, blessed by Athena

Sung to by the Sirens

Yet escaping their lure;

Odysseus, he who returned

To his kingdom

After twenty years

And defeated the horde of suitors

Who dared to threaten his wfe;

Odysseus – The legend of a man who was strong and clever;

Odysseus – diplomatic and blessed;

Odysseus – A warrior God to me.