The Song of Odysseus.

Out of the dark I return —

The abode of the shades;

The words which they said

Were the strengthless words of the Dead,

Meaningless, nothing importing.

Out of the dark I return

And the House of the Dead;

The endless regions of gloom

Deep sepulchred in the womb

Of Earth, the mother of all things.

Out of the dark I return,

From the stream of the Dead;

I slew a goat on the brink

And they pressed around me to drink

Their shadowy twittering legions.

Out of the dark I return,

From the speech of the Dead;

I asked them for counsel and word,

They twittered like bats when they heard

And wailed for the warm blood flowing.

Out of the dark I return;

( Ye are baffled, Oh! Dead );

Lost hopes, lost hearts, lost loves,

Hollow-eyed, hollow-cheeked are your droves,

I drew my sword and ye vanished.

Out of the dark I return

And the dust of desire;

My ears are still filled with the shrieks

Of the pitiful Dead and my cheeks

Still pale with the paleness of Hades.

Out of the dark I return

For the day, for the deed;

And now to Apollo, the slayer,

I stand and utter a prayer

Humbly, first making obeisance.