The song of the Sirens could pierce
through everything, and the longing
of those they seduced
would have broken far stronger bonds
than chains and masts.
But Ulysses trusted absolutely
the handful of wax and his fathom
of chain, and in innocent elation
over his little stratagem
sailed out to meet the Sirens.
Now the Sirens have a weapon more
fatal than song. And though such a thing
has never happened, someone might possibly
have escaped their singing; but
from their silence, never.
When Ulysses approach them,
the potent songstresses did not care
to sing. Surprised no doubt
they were by the bliss on his face,
thinking of nothing but his wax, and his
chains.
Ulysses couldn’t hear their silence,
and thought, he alone did not hear them
When for a fleeting moment he saw
their throats rising and falling,
their breasts lifting,
their eyes in tears,
and their lips half parted,
he believed
they were accompaniments to the air
which died unheard around him
Codicil
So waving to them,
Triumphantly he turned and sailed on.
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