Odysseus

Farewell, Athena, for I must set sail

  Beyond the world of gods and goddesses

With no blind bard to help me tell my tale

  And no fond owl to show me where home is.

I am alone all home that I will need:

  My son is grown, my wife is long since dead,

And I’ve gone gray; but in me lies a seed

  From which will spring, like you did from God’s head,

Some new adventure or a final love

  Before my battered body gives the ghost.

Smile as you watch my last days from above.

  Know that I’ll live them to the uttermost.

     Look for the setting sun and there I’ll be, 
     Fading in waves across the wine-dark sea.


Copyright 1975, 2017 by Matthew J Wells

The View Beyond the Cliff

The view beyond the cliff is deep and high.

I stretch my wings and take a long slow breath.

Will they succeed and lift me to the sky

Or fail, and send me falling to my death?

"God--so DRAMATIC!" says a pal beside me.

I laugh. He's right. It isn't do or die.

It's do and live, and find new stars to guide me

Where falling's just a tougher way to fly.

My friends all say "Goodbye!" "Good luck!" "We'll miss you!"

They leave. One stays. It's just who I expect.

She says "Get over here so I can kiss you."

We hug. I can't let go of her. I'm wrecked.

She says "Keep it together" and alone

I step off into the wild blue unknown.


Copyright 2017 Matthew J Wells

I Didn't Know It Would Be You

                           for Jessica DiGiovanni

                             and Hilary Bettis

I didn’t know it would be you who made

   Me start crying. But when I felt the tears,

I thought: “Of course.” Look at the parts you’ve played

   In everything I’ve done over the years.

I’ve seen you grow and watched you find your way

   When I lost mine; you’ve been a guiding star

Whose brightness glimmered inside every play

   I saw you do. And though I will be far

Away—far far too soon—I will be there

   Beside you—just like you will be with me—

In all you do, no matter when or where,

   Because you’re in my heart eternally.

      Whether your road meets valley, pit, or boulder,

      I’ll be there with you, just beyond your shoulder.

Copyright 2017 Matthew J Wells