The Logos of Poseidon

The crash of the wave shakes the very earth
and the sea rises to embrace the man as he falls
washing clean the crimes and the blood of friend and foe
Upon your great ships you prepare to embark

A sacrifice each will pay, a toll for crossing into my domain
for you often take from me what is mine, and it is just
that you repay me with offerings of that which you have borrowed.
A toll upon the road which embraces the world

He that gains my favor, does indeed control the world
for it is in the hands of those that haul the ropes
and unfurl the sails that the hunger of man is relieved.
If the proper due is not paid, I shall aid them in taking it.

For indeed the Greeks did benefit from my favor,
as they unfurled the banner of the beasts of the sea
and took from the Trojans goods and slaves.
Show gratitude, Greeks! Give up that which you have reclaimed.

Men of Troy, remember that a wall that no longer stands
was of my make. A making that was imposed upon me by my brother.
And the reward that was offered for such service was denied
for who should repay the expected work of a slave?

Oh Trojans, learn well from this grievous error
Remember always to treat well those upon who your life depends
for the blade will bend, the wall will break, and the armor will dent
if not crafted with the intent to dutifully serve.

Look not to a savior to spare you from my wrath
for those that offend me shall pay a tally before
I deign to once again offer them my gifts
No horse can pay your debt no matter how heavily laden.

But calm your fear, for the greatest storms can pass
And those that come through find the air sweeter
And the bounty of the sea tossed up upon your shores
I find no value in words of praise, when a gift shall serve better

Breathe, and remember that you cannot in my domain
For it is a place that you are forever to be a guest
I grant you passage, but be warned if you fight in my halls
for I shall take a heavy toll, and my anger shall be great

Clean your hulls, and mend your sails.
Fit young oars as heirs to the warped and aged.
Make all preparations and rituals to Poseidon
as is befitting a proper guest.

Mark your stitches well. Return each Barnacle to me.
Give gratitude to those who grew the wood and reaped its bounty.
Remember to set a coin for a new mast,
to pay for passage should it fail.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSA96NrNb3A]

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detroitmechworks's picture

when I was 17-18. I was a TERRIBLE sailor, and got seasick badly, wasn't nearly mature enough to understand the strength needed to be a military man, and got out with a General Discharge after a year.

After my time in the Army, that was upgraded to "Honorable" because my later service in the Army was honorable.

So, a little of this is borrowed from the little bit of the nautical mindset I gained from osmosis.

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

I'm Seriously digging these when you drop 'em.
Keep doing.

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Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

detroitmechworks's picture

@Tall Bald and Ugly They're a very fun writing exercise, and all thanks to Poseidon for his dictation, and to the Muses for letting me hear it. Smile

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

smiley7's picture

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detroitmechworks's picture

@smiley7 But as of right now, I'm seeing this as 42 Poems in total.

One of the things I started thinking of was quality of literature, and remembering that many of the later Roman additions to the myths were akin to how Fifty Shades of Grey is technically a Bram Stoker Fanfic, if you follow the lineage back...

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

smiley7's picture

@detroitmechworks
tutelage in the recesses of this old brain; good to have your refreshments and a little google carried me to Homer and this seems fitting...

Now from his breast into the eyes the ache of longing mounted, and he wept at last, his dear wife, clear and faithful, in his arms, longed for as the sunwarmed earth is longed for by a swimmer spent in rough water where his ship went down under Poseidon's blows, gale winds and tons of sea. Few men can keep alive through a big serf to crawl, clotted with brine, on kindly beaches in joy, in joy, knowing the abyss behind: and so she too rejoiced, her gaze upon her husband, her white arms round him pressed as though forever.

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detroitmechworks's picture

@smiley7 Than Homers, though not nearly as awful as the later Romans. (Honestly, the fifty shades reference was to how they decided to explain Pan, which is frankly just wrong, and since nobody except them went with that, I'm quite happy not embracing their lustful fantasies.)

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

smiley7's picture

@detroitmechworks
reference i missed understanding; always think of Oscar when i see that title.

Fifty demons and possessing multiple traits i think i understand; anyways no matter, lovely poetry and magic lives in the words speaking to each reader in some universal way; sure those with a grasp of Greek mythology enjoy your works on a different level.

Looking forward to the next creation!

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thanatokephaloides's picture

[video:https://youtu.be/KK9RFhqqioo]

Compass card is spinning
Helm is swingin' to and fro
Ooh where's the dog star
Ooh where's the moon
You're lost sailor
You've been too long at sea (note 1)

Some days the gales are howling
Some days the sea is still as glass
Ooh reef the mainsail
Ooh lash the mast
You're lost sailor
You've been too long at sea
Now the shore-lights beckon
Yeah there's a price for being free

Yeah the sea birds cry (note 2)
There's a ghost wind blowin'
It's calling you to that misty swirling sea
Till the chains of your dreams are broken
No place in this world you can be

You're lost sailor
You've been way too long at sea
Now the shore-lights beckon
Yeah there's a price for being free

Drifting yeah drifting
Yeah drifting and dreaming
'Cause there's a place you've never been (note 3)
Maybe a place you've never seen
You can hear her calling on the wind
Go on and drift your life away
Yeah just drifting and dreaming
Maybe drift your life away
Drifting and dreaming
Yes I'm going on a dream
Maybe going on a dream
Maybe going on a dream
Maybe going on a dream

(1) Bob Weir often sang "Been way too long at sea"

(2) It sounds as if Bob Weir sometimes sang "Hear the sea birds cry"

(3) The end is largely improvised.

source

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

detroitmechworks's picture

@thanatokephaloides Thank you for rectifying that state of ignorance. Smile

But there is a freedom to travel that Poseidon did represent, but it was a freedom that depended upon ritual, experience and remembering that luck was a huge part of seafaring.

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thanatokephaloides's picture

@detroitmechworks

That was an awesome song I was unfamiliar with.

Thank you for rectifying that state of ignorance.

You're welcome! "Lost Sailor" is one of my favorites. It came out in concert the year I turned 21 (1979).

But there is a freedom to travel that Poseidon did represent, but it was a freedom that depended upon ritual, experience and remembering that luck was a huge part of seafaring.

"Yeah there's a price for being free...."

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides