Wednesday, April 2, 2008

A Goddess Intervenes


In the island of Ithaca, I witnessed the struggle of Odysseus trying to return to his family. The goddess, Calypso, however, had other plans for this wandering hero. She held him captive for many years, hoping one day, he would love her like she loved him. Odysseus was not pleased with this, and everyday he would beg her to return to his loving wife, Penelope and his son Telemachus. Although he loved his wife, his main ambition was to see his child. When he first left on his journeys, Telemachus was an wriggling infant. Many years he traveled, and for many years Calypso kept him with her. Calypso made many attempts to try and seduce Odysseus. At one point, Calypso was desperate and couldn’t for Odysseus’ love any longer. She spent many days composing a potion to make him fall in love with the first woman he laid eyes on.
While he was sleeping late at night she slipped the potion into his open mouth and waited for him to awaken.
At the crack of dawn Odysseus arose and found Calypso looking at him with longing eyes. For a moment he felt a warm rush of emotion flow through his body and Calypso’s face seemed to hypnotize him. But then he thought of his love, Penelope and Calypso’s face was nothing of worth to him. His heart belonged to Penelope and he started to long for her embrace. Calypso, smiled at Odysseus, thinking her plan had worked. But Odysseus leaped from his bed and screamed Penelope’s voice begging Calypso to set him free. Calypso then knew she could never have him and no potion would alter his love for Penelope. And so, after years and years of Odysseus begging, Calypso gave in, and released him to be with his beloved one.

No comments: