At the brink of new endeavour, I stand.
Across the sea, beyond, lie distant lands:
They tempt with virgin landscapes, high adventure, great romance;
But will I return rewarded, or with empty hands,
and spirit spent?
Odysseus at Ithaca, before the Odyssey
September 7, 2009 by ze
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You’ve just reminded me of “Day of Returning” by Louis MacNeice. It’s taken from later in the Odessy. I’d send you a link, but can’t find an on-line version. A part I remember that will give you a taste of the poem is:
“Who would be loved by a goddess for long?
Hours which are golden, but unreal hours,
Flowers which forget to fall and wine too smooth;
No wrinkles to match my own.”
(Line breaks and punctuation are mine – though I’m pretty sure I got the words right.)