Tracing The Iliad

In the spirit of our #31DAYStoNaNoWriMo series, I’ve chosen to “trace” a book I’ve had a nagging interest in for a long time, Homer’s The Iliad. This is the Samuel Butler translation, downloaded here.

Random Bearings, Parts 91–95

XCI

How come you expect the worst
when hope is dressed in such fine silks?
Conversations we convalesce
by seeking out the common ground.

Random Bearings, Parts 101–105

CI

On the other side of the glass
find the dreamland built for us two
and maybe the church. Bells will chime
to tell us how we correlate.

Random Bearings, Parts 126–130

CXXVI

Could not the sky make blue and calm
the eyes now red with salt-filled tears
as if time had no consequence
and distance no antecedent.

Day Two of Tracing The Iliad

I’m obviously biased when I say I’m already finding evidence (see comment in the text below) supporting Jaynes’ hypothesis that the characters in Homer’s The Iliad misinterpreted the voices in their heads as those of the gods (for those of you just joining us, please give this…

Random Bearings, Parts 106–110

CVI

For smiles in rose; colored glasses
obscure the journey of our words,
make a celebration of trust
and see if the stars will not swing.