Reaching for Odessa

A Work in Progress
67

1

Shades of Ezra Pound admirer of Catullus

on a voyage outbound    a strong wind bending the mast

main sail reefed    jib rolled to a sliver

driving our craft forward

through over swelling seas boiling with danger

reaching for Odessa

our mission to slay the minotaur

that murderous thug molesting the city

no longer in a labyrinth thirsting for revenge

at large with an army intent on conquering

driven by existential evil that’s put in

put in by avarice of Empire envy of civilization

hatred of truth

dead poets channel at Donal’s elbow

holding course with the tiller strapped to his chest

all of them Argonauts 

and Li Po urges him to bring in more wine

put music in his lines as Ezra asked

Briggflats responded 

Prévert has a headache 

when Donal taps the metal mast

cadences cadenza through his head

coins clattering on countertops

urban imagery unlike Merwin always faraway

inhabiting places where the muses still live

among tall trees clean water woodlands still green

a strong wind propels a long reach over open sea

out of sight invisible stealthily approaching

reaching for Odessa determinedly

Dick Russell © Richard M Russell

                        2025