Reaching for Odessa, Part V

A Work in Progress
72

He’d clambered on deck of the small sailboat

tethered the raft he’d made

shook off fair warning from the gods

found a following wind like a trade

making the shrouds shriek

urging him on to Odessa

which God it was had held him in her thrall

had treated his motive with derision

how many greater warriors had she seen

than he, liars braggarts bigots all

a following wind dispelled indecision

he steered for what might be not what might have been

what might be might not be epic

no shore in sight uncharted waters

going where the wind directed

all unrehearsed destination unspecific

always onward and if the wind falters

he’ll lie becalmed his thoughts uninterrupted

he ran before the gale not thinking just sailing

watching for dangers scanning the sea

knowing it safer to ride out the storm

than risk breaking the tiller by turning

upwind he was a Viking by ancestry

he’d let this wind let his future form

this wind he knew was a gift from the gods

to slay a minotaur first he must find it

a modern version operating everywhere

no longer human not even half, a demigod

supply chain of explosives, engines, rockets

profitable attrition all going nowhere

Dick Russell © Richard M Russell

                   2025