What Calypso Found and Lost
I was tending to my moon lace flowers in my garden of night.
When I heard a crash.
I turned around and saw a strange man who had appeared to be bedraggled upon my shore.
The waves were crashing upon his body.
As I looked at the man, I thought the gods had decided I should no longer be lonely on my Island of beauty, mystery, and enchantment.
Occasionally, a man would appear on my Island, but then they would leave upon the god's request.
I would not let this happen with the strange man.
Alas, I am not allowed to contradict any other gods.
I am a minor goddess.
I hold no actual power other than being able to wield a little bit of magic.
When I heard the man groan, I was brought back to reality. I rushed towards him and picked him up.
He is Odysseus, king of Troy.
He had sailed many months upon the wine-dark sea to return home, but his men were fools who did not listen to him.
Which led them to their demise.
I fell in love with this man the moment I laid my eyes on him.
He came to my bed, and we had made sweet love for seven years.
One day, when I was tending to my moon lace, the deceitful Hermes showed up on my Island and told me that Odysseus must return home. I was devastated.
How could the gods give me this man and then take him away?
Could I not be happy just for once?
I have spent centuries alone on this island, with no one to call a friend, lover, or foe.
And then a handsome man washes upon my Shore, and they decide to strip him from me. How dare they.
But I cannot go against the Gods. I am just a minor goddess.
I go to Odysseus and tell him he's free.
I'll give him food for his long journey home.
But I cannot give him a raft, so he has to build it himself.
I watch him build his raft afar; his rippling muscles are captivating.
I will miss him oh so dearly.
I want to keep him here, but I know I cannot. He must return home to Ithaca to his wife, Penelope.
Why couldn't I be his wife? I would make a good wife. I would care for him like his wife Penelope did before he left for Troy.
No, I would be a better wife.
I could put Penelope to shame.
I wish he could stay, but I know he can't; the gods would not permit that.
I watch him leave from a distance, covered by the foliage of the leaves from the trees.
I weep from sadness as I watch him go.
Poseidon had better not send a storm after Odysseus; this man has suffered enough from me and his other journeys. He deserves to be safe at home.
But I know Poseidon is a vengeful God who will do whatever it takes to get revenge for his son.
Goodbye Odysseus, may you enter Elysium when your time is up.
I am still here on this island, alone, suffering a fate of solitude with no one to keep me company.
I will forever be alone.
