Homer's (the blind man's) poetry as seen by the waiter

"Iliad IX"
 

  And the Greek soldiers

around Achilles consider their options,

of which sailing home, isn't the only one.

Achilles is still sour at the King and making a face

like eating unripe fruits.

Yet at the bargaining table he is sweeter

than chocolate dipped cherries.

Phoenix an older charioteer speaks up:

"In your heart don't leave me behind,

not even if Zeus himself

would swear to scrape away

the scurf of age and make me young again . . ."

And he reminds the men of the time

which has past since they set out from Hellas.

He reminds the men of the women at home

and how wonderful they are.

And he talks about the sad news of the blood feud

with his father, Amyntor, Ormenus son.

And Phoenix tells all how furious his father still is with him.

All such about his father's mistress,

the one with the dark glistening hair.

The more Amyntor was ignoring his wedded wife,

Pheonix' mother was begging the son on her knees,

to bed his father's mistress down

and kill the young girls appetite for an old man.

And Phoenix admits he did as mother asked

he did his home work,

bringing his father's mistress home,

time after time at home. . .

And Phoenix says:

"They must never call me a father killer

even when he attacks me I shall not fight him for he is my father!"

Phoenix ends his story

with a plea to the gods to check his anger

and to forgive him for ever having evil thoughts against his father.    

...them books...