Present-Day Penelope

influenced by the Odyssey

Penny Parks was the Mona Lisa when she smiled.

And all the boys made it a game to make her cry,

For she had a face that made their hearts go wild

And when she refused them, she’d always let a tear

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Down her cheek—

A week, they said,

A week and then she’ll say yes to some

Lucky one of us.

 

Penny Parks never knew how or what to say

To all the boys she swore her heart would never belong—

She never could do anything but turn away:

A sign they took for her weakening will.

 

By herself, looking out the window sill,

She swore she’d never turn to any

Lucky one of them,

And yet they swore it would just be a week—

A week until she chose a

Lucky one of them.

 

I’m sorry, she told them—

Though they never believed—

I’m sorry, she said,

I’ll not give up on him:

Five years gone he’s been

But I’ll not give up on him.

 

Penny Parks prayed out the window sill

And wished that he would come home

And let another tear

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Down her cheek:

Two hundred and sixty-one weeks he’d been gone—

How many more?

How much longer could she—

Would she have to—

Hold on?

Author's Note

she needs a different last name...

Reviews

[Dressed in Poetry]

You know, I was totally thinking about this today, and I think you should change the title to "Present-Day Penelope" because it has alliteration. That would be so cool.

I love this piece though, which is why I was thinking about it.

[SweetPersephone]

Yeah! A modern day Penelope. Excellent work!

[Legion]

Great write. Took me a minute to remember my mythology. As for the last name, how about Penny Patience or something of that nature. :)

[Dressed in Poetry]

Awwww. It does sound like Penelope. Hopefully her Odysseus will return someday.