Fire light from the hall casts,

Slowly swinging shadows.

Wax drips

From a dying candle,

Blurring her words.

Dearest Odysseus,

I think I may have loved you.

Long I yearned for you,

Years I waited,

Faithfulness without doubt

In you.

Did you think I would not hear

Of Calypso?

Yes, I know of the seven years

Alone with beauty

You spent.

What of Nausicaa?

Of Circe?

Seductress extraordinaire,

Marriage without vow,

A promise of love.

Did you think I would not hear?

Long years I waited,

And you could not.

Had Antinous slayed you,

Anger would have consumed me,

But I never would have come to know

This pain.

Take care of Telemachus.

Love Always, Penelope

The candle spluttered

And drowned.

Velvet dark rushed in

To fill the void.

Perhaps I did love her,

But then again ...