To the Ecosophian Community

[sdi]

Hear the words of Athene:

ἀλλά μοι ἀμφ’ Ὀδυσῆι δαΐφρονι δαίεται ἦτορ,
δυσμόρῳ, ὃς δὴ δηθὰ φίλων ἄπο πήματα πάσχει
νήσῳ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ, ὅθι τ’ ὀμφαλός ἐστι θαλάσσης.
νῆσος δενδρήεσσα, θεὰ δ’ ἐν δώματα ναίει,
Ἄτλαντος θυγάτηρ ὀλοόφρονος, ὅς τε θαλάσσης
πάσης βένθεα οἶδεν, ἔχει δέ τε κίονας αὐτὸς
μακράς, αἳ γαῖάν τε καὶ οὐρανὸν ἀμφὶς ἔχουσιν.
τοῦ θυγάτηρ δύστηνον ὀδυρόμενον κατερύκει,
αἰεὶ δὲ μαλακοῖσι καὶ αἱμυλίοισι λόγοισιν
θέλγει, ὅπως Ἰθάκης ἐπιλήσεται: αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἱέμενος καὶ καπνὸν ἀποθρῴσκοντα νοῆσαι
ἧς γαίης, θανέειν ἱμείρεται. [...]

But my heart is torn for wise Odusseus, that hapless one, who far from his friends this long while suffers affliction in a seagirt isle, where is the navel of the sea, a woodland isle, and therein a goddess has her habitation, the daughter of the mischievous Atlas, who knows the depths of every sea, and himself upholds the tall pillars which keep earth and sky apart. His daughter it is that holds the hapless man in sorrow: and ever with soft and guileful tales she is wooing him to forgetfulness of Ithake. But Odusseus—yearning to see even the smoke leaping upwards from his own land—has a desire to die.

(Homer, Odusseia I 45–59A, as translated by S. H. Butcher and A. Lang, with minor edits by yours truly.)

If you, Ecosophians, are content to wed Kalupso and so obtain immortality—no mean thing, to be sure!—then so be it! But please, do not begrudge those who sit on the shore, gaze longingly for a wisp of smoke, and wish for death; for Zeus Mekhaneus does not forget such and contrives a way home for them...

Comments

[temporaryreality]

At loss for any other (useful?) thing to say, may I just say that I wish all the best for you, always.

[thinking_turtle]

Thanks for the interesting puzzle! Aren't we all, eternally, with new Calypso's until we have the urge to go on? I do wonder what act or thought of the Ecosophians are you referring to.