Words of Tiresias
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http://education.worley2.continuumbooks.com © Peter Worley (2012) e If Odyseey. London: Bloomsbury Illustrations © Tamar Levi 2012 The Words of Tiresias e gods see all and so see us, What has happened, What will happen And what just might; So heed the words of Tiresias To whom the gods have lent their sight: First, there will be the siren women But do not listen to their singing; Your freedom will come from not being free, From resisting to go where you long to be. e horror of the rocks you must not mention Don’t let the crew know of your intention; If they know about the rocky death en not one of you will keep your breath. ough you will lose six noble brethren Better six than all your brave men e choice is this, whatever you do: e death of six, or of all of you! You must resist the cattle of Helios If you resist not, then all hope is lost; Hunger will come to everyone, You all will die - all but one - If you succeed in angering e god of the sun. You will return home, that much is true But how you do so is up to you; Will you return home all victorious? Or dead? Or worse still, forgotten, inglorious?
Transcript of Words of Tiresias
http://education.worley2.continuumbooks.com© Peter Worley (2012) The If Odyseey. London: Bloomsbury
Illustrations © Tamar Levi 2012
The Words of Tiresias
The gods see all and so see us,What has happened, What will happen And what just might;So heed the words of Tiresias To whom the gods have lent their sight:
First, there will be the siren womenBut do not listen to their singing;Your freedom will come from not being free,From resisting to go where you long to be.
The horror of the rocks you must not mentionDon’t let the crew know of your intention;If they know about the rocky deathThen not one of you will keep your breath.
Though you will lose six noble brethrenBetter six than all your brave menThe choice is this, whatever you do:The death of six, or of all of you!
You must resist the cattle of HeliosIf you resist not, then all hope is lost;Hunger will come to everyone,You all will die - all but one -If you succeed in angering The god of the sun.
You will return home, that much is trueBut how you do so is up to you; Will you return home all victorious?Or dead? Or worse still, forgotten, inglorious?
