The Woe of O'dell

Odysseus' long suffering wife was the same,
as the present Penelope - they share more than name.
Descendant of Vikings, unruly red hair,
a beauty that idled men caught in her snare -
though it wasn't a snare, it was simply her way,
more buxom & beautiful, to grow by the day.

She lived in the present day town of Potts, Maine,
and frolicked in waters wearing only her mane -
for her hair was quite long, and curly and wild,
as she ran the long beach line, as free as a child.

It was there on the beach line, that Sully O'dell,
who worked as a fisherman, came under her spell.
For he was out walking and checking his lines,
when he saw the young beauty, Penelope Divine.

He stopped like a freighter, caught up in the rocks,
and swiftly removed all his clothes to his socks,
for he had such delicate and sensitive feet,
and hated the hard shells that lay on the beach.

Then nude as an ape man, (he was covered with hair),
he raced down the beach to the vision of love.
Penelope Divine was shocked and amazedto see a nude man on the beach where she played

 

Whatever possessed you to charge at me nude,
said Penelope Divine to Sully O'dell -
who replied, I am smitten by the power of your spell.
Oh, Fiddle le de , Penelope said,
you smell as though fish,have slept in your bed!
And beyond that small fact, and though your body rocks!
I can't bear a man who can't exit his socks.

Now our young hero was crushed to the bone -
for he never made love without his socks on.
It was a personal preference, a principle of his -
so he froze like a walrus and forfeited bliss.
Well, said Penelope, are you the man of my dreams?
Sully studied her lushness of peaches and cream.
I guess not, he sighed, if I take off my socks,
my feet could be eaten by sand shells or sharks.

Penelope took mercy and patted his head,
Oh that is just something that your mother said!
Yes, he said sadly, but Ma wouldn't lie,
for I am the apple of my mama's eye.

Oh well, said Penelope, then there's nothing to do.
She returned to her frolics, he returned to his crew.
And sometimes at night, if you stare at the rocks -
you can still see poor Sully, alone in his socks.
And often he wonders, as heroes oft do,
why his sad tale of woe, brings such mirth to his crew.

© 2010 Phibby Venable

Reviews

[cartera]

Just a big load of fun. Imaginative, well-structured but above all written with huge gusto that bears the reader along and engenders lighter feeling for the day to come or that has past.
My cup of tea.
ATB

Alex.

[Chris]

Phibby,

I am still chuckling, well done!

Chris

[Greg the Bard]

This seems to be well thoughtout and stacks as if answering question in jest. I like the light hearted way the liric is leading the reader to continue the read. The image is so intense. Great read

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I loved this, great humor and wit dear. This line might be tidied a bit, "Then nude as an ape man, (he was covered with hair),
he raced down the beach to the vision of love"

How about...(he raced to the vision of Venus there) ? Just thought the non-rhyming line threw the rhythm off a bit...but I love the sea shanty feel! Always a fan...F.

[Robin]

this is one for the library , truly , a classic

I love it !