Wait for Morning (Cyclops pt. 3)

My lie did not settle him , but angered him. "He clutched at my companions and caught two in his hands like squirming puppies to beat their branis out , spattering the floor. Then he dismembered them and made his meal , gaping and crunching like a mountain lion - everything: innards , flesh , and marrow bones."

We cried aloud in horror at the sight of our companions being eaten. After his meal , the Cyclops laid down to rest. "My heart beat high now at  the chance of action." I went over to stab him , but then thought better of it ; if he dies , we die. We would never be able to move the large stone from the entrance. "We were left to groan and wait for morning."

(Mountain Lion)

--Odysseus

Hitting the Shore (Cyclops pt.2)

"Two dozen four-wheeled wagaons , with heaving teams , could not have stirred the tonnage of that rock from where he wedged it over the doorsill."  After closing of the entrance , he sat down and started milking his ewes. He prepared this milk for his supper. In the midst of him tending to the fire , he managed to see us in the glare.

"Strangers , who are you? And where from ," he bellowed.  We felt our hearts drop in far as he questioned us.

 I spoke up in reply ,"We are from Troy , Archaeans , blown off course by shifting gales on the Great South Sea ; homeward bound , but taking routes and ways uncommon ; so the will of Zeus will have it ."

I continue telling him about where we are from , in hopes that he might let us go.

 He tells us that he does not wish to listen to our gods , and asks , " Tell me , where was it , now , you left your ship - around the point , or down the shore , I wonder?"

I lie to him by telling him our ship got destoyed by hitting the rocks on the shore.

--Odyyseus

Silence Around the Embers (Cyclops pt.1)

My next encounter was very unexpected. My men and I were sitting around a campfire. We sat "in silence around the embers , waiting." When the Cyclops came in "he had a load of of dry boughs on his shoulder to stroke his fire at suppertime." When he dropped what was in his hands on the ground , we all ran to hide against the far wall of the cave.  He walked over to some of his ewes , preparing to milk them. We watched with slight horror and amazement as the Cyclops moved a very large , solid rock to cover the entrance to the cave ...

--Odysseus

The Lotus Eaters

Our ship ride after the Cicones was quiet , and menacing. Zeus had sent many more storms for my men and I to encounter. This set of storms had pushed me even further away from home. "Nine days I drifted on the teeming sea before dangerous high winds" hit us.

"We came to the coastline of the Lotus Eaters , who live upon that flower." I sent two men to go and see what type of people inhabited this land. My men ran into Lotus Eaters , who seemed to want nothing bad to come of us. Some of my men had eaten the mysterious flower that was offered to them. I ended up having to drag those men back onto the ship ; they were not aware that the flower would make you feel as if you wanted to stay with the Lotus Eaters. In the end I had to tie the men down to the ship so they would not move.  Our journey continued on ...

--Odysseus

Waiting for a Warrior that Would Never Come (Cicones)

I continue telling the Phaeacians of the story of the Cicones.

I tell them of how we "killed the men who fought" us and how we "enslaved the women." I told my men ,

"Back, and quickly! Out to sea again !" My men were fools and would not listen to me , for they had drunk too much wine. Natives ran on shore to go and summon the army of the Cicones.

The army was fierce , and arrived with dawn just setting over us. (I have paused at this place in my story , not wanting to continue with the violent images that are turning in my mind.) We fought the Cicones , but not without consequence. We continued our journey with six lonely benches on our ship , waiting for a warrior that would never come.

--Odysseus

A Rough Time at Sea

The trip from Calypso's island was anything but pleasant. The waves crashed all around us , and their seemed to be no imminent end.

I am found by Alcinous , king of the Phaeacians. I spend that night as a guest at court. The Greeks treat me with great repsect and courtesy. They request me to tell them of my journey from Calypso's island. I tell them of how I was stuck there , how I tried to be happy "but in my heart I never gave consent" to be with her. I tell them of my rescue by Hermes , and the horrifying waves we crashed into before being brought here.I tell tell them of how "the wind carried me west from Illion and brought me to the shore of Ismaros..." I decided to leave the story of the Cicones for last ...

--Odysseus

Calypso's Island

  I have woken up to find myself on an island. It's beautiful , don't get me wrong , but it's not home. I am not here alone , for I am with my captor , Calypso. The island is beautiful , as is she , but neither of them are Penelope. Calypso seems to "cling to me in her sea-hollowed caves" at all times.

Athena has sent Hermes to come and rescue me , for Poseidon is "cold and rough" and does not wish to see my return home. I see Hermes chatting with Calypso; Calypso looking as if she is deep in thought.

Calypso returns to me saying ,"O forlorn man , be still. Here you grieve no more; you need not feel your life consumed here: I have pondered it , and I shall help you go ..."

I am no longer crying , for Calypso's words have pleased me. She has supplied me with a raft for my journey.

 Calypso stops me and makes a last-chance offer ,"I wish you well. If you could see it all, before you go - all the adversity you face at sea - you would stay here , and guard this house , and be immortal ..."

I am offended by her implied words , only as they apply to my Penelope. I bid Calypso goodbye , then set off on my journey at sea.

--Odysseus