How Did You Know? Poem by Tom Courtney

'At sea once more we had to pass the Sirens, whose sweet singing lures sailors to their doom. I had stopped up the ears of my crew with wax, and I alone listened while lashed to the mast, powerless to steer toward shipwreck. Odyssey, Book XII

And how can I thank you?
You showed me I’m wrong
You stood up for what’s right
and withstood my frown

You nestled your nose
up next to my ear
and sang me so sweet
that I couldn't hear

You raised up a bunch
of our convicts as kids
gave bread to the homeless
Was it something I did?

to join Achlys Adicia
unknowing my fate
to enter your world
now the hour is late

You were terror before terror
and when coming of age
They could not contain you
there’s no kind of cage

And you had your plans
don’t let life get to you
You got to life first
You made yourself true

Then you came up to me
and spit in my eye
I turned to the onslaught
what is this? why?

Then your mouth covered mine
you rattled my teeth
You tore off my collar
I was hung up like beef

And just when I thought
that I knew you so well
you changed all the rules
so that I couldn’t' tell

And all this is fine
but how did you know
how I craved for your sweet soul
but needed your show?