Odysseus 2

I waited for you on the rocky outcroppings;

sitting on the rocks before the ships

as they sailed in and out of the bay.

And I planted a prayer in my heart

that I would find you at your haunting.

And you came.

I said a prayer to Jove that you would see me;

look up on the rock face

and notice I was there;

but your eyes did not stray in my direction.

I whispered your name onto the wind

and you heard my voice and came to me.

I could listen to you talk for hours,

Odysseus, my love;

but the tide called you away,

"I have sails to mend," you told me,

"But I will come back when I have them,

and sit with you a little longer."

You returned with sails for mending,

and I watched you from the rocky cliff,

watched you work and then

rest in the golden sand.

And you made me smile.

***

The cafe was dark, barely lit,

but you came and found me anyways,

and filled the room with light

by your presence, and your music.

And I listened, barely able

to hear the notes,

but it was beautiful because it was you.

And again, you saw me, Odysseus.

But you did not turn away

as I thought you would.

It would have been so easy to forget

that I was there.

But you came to me.

And you filled me with joy

at the sound of your voice;

and I felt so honored that you,

Odysseus, the king among men,

would choose to be in my presence;

Me, Penelope,

a girl of the kingdom, an acquaintance,

not even a friend or a lover.

And my heart sang the melody you played

in that little cafe.

And you made me smile.