The Penlogue
An Ode to Return
Nhat Ha Pham
Panic-stricken,
They ride the waves that ambush
Endlessly, to no avail.
An unbridled sail thrashes the deck,
Akin the striking thunder.
And a ticking in his head
stretches the agonising hours
As the brave men steer the galley,
steadfast through the storm.
At mercy of a god’s trident,
A cyclopean surge plummets.
Hulking boulders flung with
Rancor, bludgeoned the ships.
Twelve sunk battered, down the
Murky water of the Black Sea.
Not a sunlight’s ray slips past
The gaunt mass of darkness,
Nor does the abyss bear hope.
But as he leads his last-standing men
Towards the horizon, the mere thought
To be enveloped in his rose
Offers him a strange comfort.
Panic-stricken,
They ride the waves that ambush
Endlessly, to no avail.
An unbridled sail thrashes the deck,
Akin the striking thunder.
And a ticking in his head
stretches the agonising hours
As the brave men steer the galley,
steadfast through the storm.
At mercy of a god’s trident,
A cyclopean surge plummets.
Hulking boulders flung with
Rancor, bludgeoned the ships.
Twelve sunk battered, down the
Murky water of the Black Sea.
Not a sunlight’s ray slips past
The gaunt mass of darkness,
Nor does the abyss bear hope.
But as he leads his last-standing men
Towards the horizon, the mere thought
To be enveloped in his rose
Offers him a strange comfort.
Author's note
"The moment the theme ‘Turbulence’ was revealed, an image I could vividly recall was a storm at sea. I was instantly inspired by the story ‘The Odyssey’, depicting Odysseus’ 10-year journey to return to his home island, Ithaca. A subconscious part of me also took inspiration from Shakespeare’s story, ‘The Tempest’ which I studied throughout eighth grade. I’ve just realised this recently, it explains why I remembered analysing a storm so distinctively.
It fueld newborn interest to base the poem on Odysseus’ journey with elements of Greek mythology. The poem links with the theme of ‘Turbulence’ not only through his battles against the sea but how he combats his struggles and mentality to return to his family." - Aria Pham
