Before spreads the pure sea-sight
Blue embraced by the dying sunlight
From this high cliff-edge I call
To thundering Zeus: 'avert his fall'
The happy immortal and lawgiver
In whose name many a young heifer
Had I put to peace
I ask:
Where the sea touches the sky
Let my son's ships come by
And have the leading one in white sail
Be blown full by the northern gale
Let gallant Theseus take my crown
My castle too and exceed my renown
Let his children gather around his knees
Oh high Olympus dwellers, heed my dire pleas
But now I see against the red heavens
And my heart leaps, joy awakens!
Brave black ships, they have arrived!
Rising, restoring color to a face deprived
But
The heart leaps once more, but this time
In fright at the gods ungodly crime
Black sails I sight, and blacker my soul becomes
My core beats like the loud war-drums
And soon my view is by tears obscured
By this grief that cannot be endured
No son to carry my name, my riches and kingdom ended
Was it worth for such an adventure, a prince expended?
My tears fly into the ocean, my cries towards the gods
But unlike earth and water, my mind is not at odds
Off to Hades I am, to reunite with my son
To ask him what had him undone
Was it the labyrinth where he lost his way?
Or was it the beast, had he failed to slay?
But most I want to embrace him declare
That we are reunited by my despair!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Shanto, this is wonderful and I have enjoyed your short Greek poem immensely. My Congratulations! However, I am not clear about Theseus, as he returned back to Athens. Kindly elaborate. My 10...