IMAGINING ODYSSEUS

Day after day, my days are alike
as the grinding and sifting of barley and wheat;
and times without number I’ve sighted Odysseus,
man of the manly build,
walking out of the grey fog over the sea from a journey
too long to tell about
in a single night.
I am but dreaming when I see him walking with a purpose
this way toward the palace:
don’t break stride through unfinished distance, say I,
in one quick breath,
wishing my words had wings at break of day.
I’m upstairs…here, take lovingly in your arms me.
After so long and this much said,
reason strikes me, as light shines on water, that his journey
won’t be over until he makes his way into our room,
lies in this tree-trunk bed
set down with the love we both expect.

© TINO VILLANUEVA