The Odyssey

by Homer

but he longs to see even just the smoke that rises from his own homeland, and he wants to die.

Poseidon must give up his anger, since he cannot fight alone against the will of all the gods.”

My mother says that I am his son, but I cannot be sure, since no one knows his own begetting. I wish I were the son of someone lucky, who could grow old at home with all his wealth.

But now, the winds have seized him, and he is nameless and unknown. He left nothing but tears for me.

Be brave, and win yourself a lasting name.

Poets are not to blame for how things are;

You need not sweeten what you say, in pity or from embarrassment.

But death is universal. Even gods cannot protect the people that they love, when fate and cruel death catch up with them.”