the nymph had retreated to the island 

to get away from sailors like him – 

because no one ever believed the 

words of an olive-skinned girl 

over that of a white sailor. 

when calypso happened across a love note 

in his bag, from the wife he had 

never mentioned to calypso -— 

her fury shook the island. 

trees crashed to meet the waves, 

birds flew into the sky in fear, 

the sea, a dark whirlpool 

as the ground shook 

in sync with 

her heartbreak. 

as night fell, calypso shed her nymph disguise –— 

became a predatorial creature that tore 

through the night with inhumane speed –— 

he had hungered for her body, now she 

hungered  thirsted for his blood 

he was no match for her claws, 

sharp teeth,  

venomous grin, 

calypso sucked the lies  

straight from his lips until 

he was blue in the face, and 

the gods of olympus  

turned their gazes away  from the

spectacle to avoid seeing 

calypso sink her teeth 

into odysseus 

one. 

last. 

time.