Tell Me About A Complicated Man

[“Tell me about a complicated man.” The Odyssey. Trans. by Emily Wilson]

—

Tell me about a complicated man Iʻll tell you
about a woman with no choice but to stay
and stir and plan the man complex the clock
busying its hands the minutes in bed sleeping
stories untold who needs them play the rest
throw out the out of date weeks pass
she stays reads writes deepens her lines heʻs
gone out lives in his head lost something gold
sold heʻs got vision but heʻs lost the key
to the front door recognizes his children
when heʻs out and about hasnʻt formed
a strong opinion in the womb or out of it
passed various tests but couldnʻt could
didnʻt either itʻs not all negative or just
passive a fantasy she watches waits
is this who when is this where I began
where childhood ended I knew a man
not so complicated not so lost inside
himself adventure awaits or so we
are led to believe our local shop a world
I wonder a list of grocers tell me and
Iʻll tell you about a complicated man