Suffering

Suffering

Did you hear the story of Odysseus?
He that went to war for his king.
Did you hear of the heinous misery
one simple curse did bring

Ten circuits round the Sun, the planet made.
Ten years to return, was he late.
Ten sights of the seasons without laughter;
a decade of nurturing hate...
that upon arrival, Odysseus embarked on slaughter.

For Poseidon he could not touch:
that demon who had cursed him back.
Thus revenge was for the suitors to bear,
and when revealed to them all,
launched into attack.

What was it he said to them
as they pleaded for their very lives...
“You tried to take away my world!”
And Odysseus heard none question
the price of such tithes.

How sweet was that first gaze
Of she whom his heart named Love
A sight that did easily raise
A river of unbidden tears
A sight that was bountiful reward
And for which he’d gladly faced,
A decade of unknowing fears.