Odysseus
I spent last night feasting to the glory of the gods, but it wasn’t exactly pleasing to me. There was a wonderful array of food and many gifts were bestowed upon me (a robe and a bar of gold for each of the thirteen lords.) The young men competed in an array of athletics and challenged me to join them. I naturally refused as I sadly knew that I was worn out by the sea and would probably have no chance to win. Laódamas saw my refusal as an excuse to mock me and detract from my honor. Naturally, I had to play a few games. Everyone was especially impressed with my discus throw and assured the crowd I could compete equally well in nearly all other competitions. Once this was all done with, we set o
ut for the ship and my journey home continued.
Oh, I just wanted to mention that I may have skipped over a tiny little part of what happened. You see, there was this minstrel who kept playing the harp. I wouldn’t normally mind, I even enjoyed some of his pieces. However, he sang far too many tales of the war. Whenever it is mentioned or I am reminded of it, a chill goes up my spine. I can’t say why. People want to feel safe and secure (just as how I said the gods also want to feel safe and secure.) Frankly, reliving a war is a very traumatic experience. I miss the friends that perished on the fields. I should grieve for the loss of their families as well. So many, like mine have been split apart. And what drove us to war anyway? It was essentially a selfish quarrel between the gods. If the gods didn’t have such petty arguments, their actions wouldn’t cause men so much grief. I suppose it can work the other way around too, though. Seriously, I can’t believe how many times a day Athena saves my life… War is never good and it haunts me. I went into it with my friends, for honor and the spirit of brotherhood but came out alone and forgotten, a scruffy man without a name.
I spent last night feasting to the glory of the gods, but it wasn’t exactly pleasing to me. There was a wonderful array of food and many gifts were bestowed upon me (a robe and a bar of gold for each of the thirteen lords.) The young men competed in an array of athletics and challenged me to join them. I naturally refused as I sadly knew that I was worn out by the sea and would probably have no chance to win. Laódamas saw my refusal as an excuse to mock me and detract from my honor. Naturally, I had to play a few games. Everyone was especially impressed with my discus throw and assured the crowd I could compete equally well in nearly all other competitions. Once this was all done with, we set o
ut for the ship and my journey home continued.Oh, I just wanted to mention that I may have skipped over a tiny little part of what happened. You see, there was this minstrel who kept playing the harp. I wouldn’t normally mind, I even enjoyed some of his pieces. However, he sang far too many tales of the war. Whenever it is mentioned or I am reminded of it, a chill goes up my spine. I can’t say why. People want to feel safe and secure (just as how I said the gods also want to feel safe and secure.) Frankly, reliving a war is a very traumatic experience. I miss the friends that perished on the fields. I should grieve for the loss of their families as well. So many, like mine have been split apart. And what drove us to war anyway? It was essentially a selfish quarrel between the gods. If the gods didn’t have such petty arguments, their actions wouldn’t cause men so much grief. I suppose it can work the other way around too, though. Seriously, I can’t believe how many times a day Athena saves my life… War is never good and it haunts me. I went into it with my friends, for honor and the spirit of brotherhood but came out alone and forgotten, a scruffy man without a name.
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