Missing, believed killed
A storm
Cyclops,
Poseidon's rage.
Circe's embrace
Witchcraft easy explanation
Men as swine
Quite literally so.
Penelope, did you wish
A helpmeet, lover, friend
Father for the fatherless lad
For lonely Ithaca a master?
Or did Clytemnestra's fate
Despite the murdered daughter
The husband who forced himself on her;
Despite the concubine in tow,
Murdered by him whom she gave life
Justified even by history
Make you think twice.
Penelope, did you wait
Not for love
Or loyalty
Or even habit?
Did you wait
Because for a woman
It does not get any better
And you could not afford
It getting any worse?
2 comments:
A powerful idea and yet another peom which makes one sit up and reflect.
You are getting better and better at it.
I also wondered!!! We argued (in college) that her waiting should not have been considered a virtue...and we had a good teacher who said ofcourse there's nothing virtuous about it, he said those times were like that... he did not defend those times, so we really respected him.
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