Journeys
Poetry
The Disgruntled Traveler: An Experiential Quartet*
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The Odyssey
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Odysseus made quite a trip to Troy and back
But twenty years of hardship barely measure up To one plane flight from San Francisco to the east Six hours of pain endured within a flying beast This ancient Greek with muscled men did labor long To build a noble wooden horse, then climb inside Three dozen stinky guys jammed tight, elbow to knee I know how they felt, as I sit here in 12B This horse was three or four times as big as real life A mighty beast, of most impressive bulk and heft About the size that lots of people try to shove Into the tiny bins for carry-ons above A years-long course the Greeks took back to Ithaca They headed home with spoils and weapons they had gleaned A many-dangered trip, it wasn’t like a cruise You have to wonder—how much baggage did they lose? The cyclops pelted them with rocks of mountain size He stared at them with one gigantic bloodshot eye One has the same experience should one dare ask About the chances of an upgrade to first class With lotus fruit the hungry Greeks their stomachs filled Their memories erased, the feast they soon forgot Forget the last airline meal that I had to eat? I wish I could: two almonds, cheese and chartreuse meat ‘Tween Scylla and Charybdis Grecian sailors steered Heart-brave, avoiding death from monster and whirlpool But grumpy flight attendants are a greater trial They smack you with the cart each trip along the aisle We sailors are alike, work-weary travelers Returning to greet spouses who remain behind Those left at home to tend the hearth are heard to say: “Nice odyssey, I’m sure, but what about my day?” Vertical Divider
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