Nobody

Tags

Ancient Greek Mythology, Australian poet, Cyclops, Formal poetry, Homer, Homer's Odyssey, Laertes, Odysseus, Petrarchan sonnet, poem, poetry, Polyphemus, Poseidon, sonnet, Ulysses

𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲

{𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘖𝘥𝘺𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘯 4 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘴}

𝐈.

War-wearied are the sailors on the sea.
An isle they reach, a chance to slake their thirst,
To satisfy their hunger — but they durst
Not raise the wrath of Polyphemus — he
Who owns this cave — but take his stores and flee!
Too late! The Cyclops has returned, and first
Two heroes he devours: “You are all cursed!
You sail here but to make a meal for me!”

A stone he rolls, the cave’s wide mouth to block.
And in the morn two more men are consumed.
He then unblocks the cave and drives his sheep
Outside, reseals the cave, and leads his flock
To pastures, there to graze. “We are not doomed,”
Says wise Odysseus, “The giant must sleep.”

𝐈𝐈.

“So craft a pointed stake, a sturdy spear.
Bring out our strong and undiluted wine.”
And in the evening comes the giant to dine
On two more men. Odysseus says: “Here,
Drink of our wine.” His comrades cower in fear.
“Tell me your name — you of the stronger spine,
And I will gift you as a guest. Divine
Poseidon is my sire — to him I’m dear.”

Odysseus: “Nobody is my name.”
Polyphemus: “Nobody I’ll eat last.”
Now drunk, the Cyclops slumbers, soon he’ll wake;
The Cyclops, wise Odysseus will maim:
The spear into the giant’s eye is cast.
He wakes in dreadful pain — pulls out the stake.

𝐈𝐈𝐈.

His friends come as he screams in agony —
They gather by the cave and wonder, why?
“Who hurts you Polyphemus?” is their cry.
“Nobody hurts me! Nothing can I see!
Nobody!” Comes the blinded giant’s plea.
And hearing this they shake their heads and sigh —
Advise, since madness none there can deny:
“Pray that the gods restore your sanity!”

Next morning Polyphemus moves the stone.
And searches all his sheep as they move by
For his tormentors — but not one is found.
For each clings underneath a sheep, alone.
Knowing full well that if he’s found he’ll die,
He dare not move, nor does he make a sound.

𝐈𝐕.

Down to their ship the heroes swiftly run,
As Polyphemus screams and hurls great stones:
“I’ll sink your ship, my teeth will grind your bones!”
Odysseus: ” I am Laertes’s son!
And freedom from your clutches we have won!”
The heroes cheer and Polyphemus moans.
A prayer to great Poseidon then he groans:
“My father, I know I’m your blessed one.

This cruelty, by these men, you must avenge.
Destroy them and their ship; my only eye
Will never see again — Lord, take their lives!
And great Poseidon will take his revenge
For all the men but one are soon to die —
Odysseus, resourceful one, survives.

— D.N. O’Brien