Penelope
Sitting here by my loom
Was not such a Herculean task.
Two lost decades waiting for you to return;
Now we cannot have, only reminisce about the past
Spent without you raising Telemachus.
Instilling in him the overpowering hope
That from Troy you would make your way back to us.
Like a wounded bird who could not migrate to her sunny destination
I had stayed in Ithaca.
Without your hand it became a pathetic, rat-infested nation.
Now you are here once more:
Stoic, crafty, cunning, and courageous.
You will be a father; raise your son. As before,
You'll help the rest of us restore Ithaca to her full glory.
How much I would like to hear you tell me your amazing stories
Of wonders, gods, and monsters far and wide
You have encountered on your journey here.
I would sit down by your side.
Tell you what I have been through: deer
And cattle wasted by idle, plotting hands;
Not a day went by that I did not pine for you and cry.
By the sun's bright light I weaved,
By Selene's pale glow undid
A shroud that never was to be
And prayed the immortals pity me
(Constant, faithful Penelope).
Let me see your face once more
Hear your dear, yet scorning laugh;
Walk with you along the rock hillsides like before
Not worry about the god's enormous wrath.
I can gaze at you right now,
Never will I let you go.
This I simply won't allow.
We'll remain here and let life stay sweet and slow.
But if you must- mind, to the four
Dark corners of the earth with you I'll go.
Starting this very second, I
Shall stay with you forevermore!