This is the first part of a sequence that retells The Odyssey through the eyes of some of the characters in it. I thought it would be too large to post the entire sequence all in one post, so I will spread them out.
Penelope Waits
why do I constantly
look out our window
hoping to see your ship
returning to its harbour?
why do I listen for the sound
of your footsteps echoing
up to our bedchamber?
but I know you too well
you’ve gone after
your own desires
& I’m the spider
who waits quietly
the thing with journeys
is that they spiral inwards
to your own dark heart
should you return
you’ll find me here
spinning a web
to ensnare you
& every night I unpick it
while hungry men wait below
none of them
have your eyes
or your smell
all the heroes returned
from the wars,
except you
long have I dreamed
of your dark hair, tanned skin,
& sinewy form to emerge
out of the frothing sea-water
& into my arms
but I know you too well
you will come home only
when you are tired
of your journeys
your betrayals
your lies
& after so many threads
I’m tired of waiting
for our lives to begin again
is there anything worth
salvaging
between us?
Joanne Fisher
joanne the geek 
6 thoughts on “Penelope Waits”