Odyssey

Odysseus lay down to sleep
On the outer porch. He spread out
An uncured oxhide, and on top of that
He layered fleeces from the many sheep
That were always being slaughtered
There in his house. Eurynome 5
Covered him with a cloak, and there he lay,
Sleepless, his mind racing with thoughts
Of how to punish the suitors.
And then the women
Came from the house, on their way,
As usual, to sleep with the suitors, 10
Laughing with each other and giggling.
Odysseus felt his chest tighten. He brooded
For a long time over what he should do—
Rush out and kill every last one of them,
Or let them sleep with the arrogant bastards is
This one last time. He growled under his breath

The way a dog standing over her pups growls
When she sees a stranger and digs in to fight—

So Odysseus growled at their iniquity,

"Endure, my heart. You endured worse than this
On that day when the invincible Cyclops
Ate our comrades. You bore it until your cunning
Got you out of the cave where you thought you would die."

-309-