Ithaka
The Odyssey from another point of view
I had a lot of fun writing this poem. It was born out of a prompt in my Poetry Stanza (writing group) and took a direction I hadn’t expected 😊
Apologies to Homer, to the Patriarchy and to all the protagonists in The Odyssey.
First, In complete contrast, much respect to C P Cavafy 1863-1933 whose wonderful poem Ithaka has inspired so many people, including my brother in law at whose funeral it was read aloud. You can read Cavafy’s version of Ithaka by clicking on the link below.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51296/ithaka-56d22eef917ec#
My somewhat different version follows below. Enjoy!
Ithaka, I’m sick of ya! Of course they were wild, my own lad included! I thought Yules was too clever to be so deluded As to sail off to sea and lay siege against Troy. Damn it! Nell was a beauty, Parry just a spoiled boy! So, there’s me with a baby to raise on my own Never guessed Yules would leave me till I was a crone … Well, not quite a crone, babe! I’m still hot and good looking The lovely young suitors’ libidos are cooking… Yes, I look shy and virtuous and lower my eyes While they jostle and brag and compete for the prize (That’s Ithaka and me, if the penny’s not dropped) So of course, my son Telly said it had to be stopped I must stick to my tapestry, keep them all waiting To be honest though, babe, I’d much rather be dating The cute little blond with the muscly pecs If I’m truthful, in fact, I’d quite like some hot sex! It’s years since Yules left, what was I s’posed to do? Dead cert he’s no saint, but I’ve had some fun too! And now, Telly, he says some old man’s at the gate And is getting himself in a bit of a state Claims Telly’s his son, and (well, here’s a thing) He’s the old missing Yules, who’s now going to be king_ Again. Telly’s not happy, it goes without saying He’s just reaching his prime, while the old man is greying I think there’ll be trouble, see, Tel’s not had a dad! He’s a hot-tempered lout and things could turn out bad. Yules was never a father as most people see it Was never a husband, more a ‘f*ck-it-and-leave-it’ “Come on, Pen”, he said then, “you know that you want to” Well, I may have I s’pose, but not quite so impromptu He used no protection, well I’m sure you guessed that And after nine months I gave birth to his brat! By then he was long gone, off fighting in Troy I sent him a message that we’d had a boy. He never replied then and not a word since And now he’s turned up to find Telly’s the Prince! Tel, our handsome young Regent, who’s waiting for me -I’m his mother!- to snuff it, so that he can be free! Well, I’ve given it some thought, and I know what to do Now it’s my turn to run off and leave them to stew I’m off to start life on my own and have fun All this waiting and pining? Oh no, babe!, I’m done! I’m abandoning Ithaka to search for some joy With my cute little blond I’m going AWOL - to Troy!! April 2024