Odysseus And The Suitors Poem by David McLansky

Odysseus and the Suitors

And then the stranger let loose his string
And like a lyre, it did sing;
Sending arrows tipped with bronze
From the bow bent vagabond;
First in the neck of Antonous
Who spouted blood quite indecorous;
Who dropping goblet on the floor,
Sliding sideways towards the door;
He staggered up onto his feet
O’er turned the table, wine and meat,
And died as blood gushed from his nose,
And fell into an awkward pose.
Then mighty Odysseus tore off his rags,
And shot them down like running stags,
The floor was wet with wine and blood,
Flowing as a crimson flood,
Round islands of the pierced and slain,
Who begged for life, but begged in vain