Why cover the same ground again? … It goes against my grain to repeat a tale told once, and told so clearly.
― Homer, The Odyssey
Welcome to this week’s Poetry 1o1 Rehab Prompt, which is also the last for 2015, but fear not, the Rehab will return next year – in fact next week 😉
My prompt this week is ODYSSEY. The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. An odyssey is also described variously as a long wandering or voyage usually marked by many changes of fortune and often as an intellectual or spiritual wandering or quest. So, this week, put aside the seasonal eating and drinking for a moment, and write a poem to describe your own personal odyssey.
Winding roads, long, hard, lonely.
Fragments of, his story.
Relentless snow.
Hopeless, no.
So it was,
and is
on, and on, and on, and
cold, hope’s flickering light, beckoning.
At the end of the road, a reckoning.
Snows passed.
Times passed.
The light flickered, and faded,
out.
And still,
the road, winding ahead, a siren,
calls.
poetry| 101 | rehab | odyssey
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andy townend 
I like the rhyming of this poem. It’s not an easy subject to handle.
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Thank you, this one was hard and I’m pleased to see it has provoked a diversity of responses to the theme..
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That is poetry.
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That is a compliment. Thank you.
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You are welcome!
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The illustration and the text so well knit — a scarf of words and images to keep you safe against the storm. Answer the siren call.
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Oh, and here is my odyssey. Must be my mood; my trip rather stale and grim.
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forgot the link.
https://adarkenedhouse.wordpress.com/2015/12/28/shadow-odyssey/
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Lovely picture to complement your poem!
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It’s beautiful.
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Thank you..
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Okay here is my attempt for the prompt odyssey. https://verajackson.wordpress.com/2015/12/28/odyssey/
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Love the snowy seasonal touch 🙂
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Thank you Andy. Happy New Year! Blessings and peace. ☺✌
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Thank you and (rather late) likewise…
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No worries.
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I enjoy the rhythm that your poem creates, it has a threatening and soothing vibe to it simultaneously. I really like the photograph as well, and also these tiny snowflakes that cascade over your blog. I just wish the weather here would mimic!
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Thank you, glad it all worked – unusual not to have snow there though?
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Very! I even prepared a post about, for tonight. Think this will be the first year in a long while, as far as I remember, being without snow.
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I remember the snow being very very deep at this time of the year!
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Andy, that poem is gorgeous–especially the first two lines, the last 2 of the 3rd stanza and the repeated image of the light flickering out.
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Thank you Melinda, this was a hard one to write
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You’re welcome. I couldn’t tell from reading it. 🙂
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Here is my Odyssey; it’s a part of my much larger holiday/Christmas/Epiphany Odyssey: http://melindakucsera.com/2015/12/29/magicians-and-magi/
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I like the fragmented narrative, like cobblestones or rocks on a rough road. Thank you, Andy!
My odyssey is of a totally different sort, also a rough road but with plenteous amusement along the way: An Odyssey of Education and Reading – http://wp.me/p5BCD4-lg
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Thank you and I loved the child’s perspective in your prom Lizl
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Very nice!
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Thank you!
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I like the control and lightness of touch in your poem. Here is my more abrasive take https://oudeis2005.wordpress.com/2015/12/30/epic/
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Thank you and I loved your excellent riposte to the prompt, gutsy, blunt and powerful.
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Hi Andy, like your version, here is mine … quite a different outlook, so enjoy!
https://arousedblog.wordpress.com/2015/12/30/odyssey/
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Thank you!
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Thanks for your comment Andy – I replied after my Odyssey. Keep traveling but always look within!
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A most appropriate challenge for the time of year. Andy, I love your poem: the little couplets give it a bit of abruptness that’s just lovely combined with the longer stanzas in between.
All I can say for this offering is that I’m learning to drive, so: https://tuckedintoacorner.wordpress.com/2015/12/30/poetry-101-rehab-odyssey/
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Thank you, this one was hard to write and the form emerged rather than to a plan so I’m delighted that you liked it..
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sort of measuring
time by the expiration
date on a bottle
of painkillers is
realizing that
the journey
hasn’t been
all that bad –
let’s divide and
conquer what’s
left of it before
the potency
wears off
.
20151231:1326
y
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Thank you for the tag and a v powerful poem.
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thank you!
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This is a really good challenge, Andy. I was able to think about my the things I achieved this year and my goals for the coming year!
Here is my odyssey! 😀
http://arealmessybeautifultwistedsunshine.com/2015/12/31/the-magic-of-life/
Happy New Year!
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Thank you and a very Happy New Year to you also!
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Challenging challenge for sure. I guess because I took it very personally but that’s poetry! Thanks, Andy!
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Veery nice post
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