[Susan McLean]

Achilles and Odysseus

Of course they hate each other. One, a sword;
the other, more a river than a rock.
Achilles, when Odysseus brings word
of what the king will give him to come back,
replies, "I hate like Hell's gates one who says
one thing and hides another in his heart."
As much as calls him liar—which he is—
although he stuck to facts in his report.
He mentioned no apology; there's none.
Achilles isn't wrong. Odysseus lies
to everyone: his father, wife, and son;
his men, his slaves, Athena in disguise.
Whatever gets him the desired result.
To him, Achilles is a pride-mad brat,
sharp as a blade, but wobbly in the hilt
and dangerous. Wrapped up in his conceit,
Achilles never takes advice except
from gods, whereas Odysseus pays heed
to everyone—slaves, herdsmen, girls in the street—
and follows their advice if it seems good.

Odysseus, on the shore of death's domain,
is hailed there by Achilles' prickly shade,
and tries to soothe and flatter him again,
praising his high esteem among the dead.
"Don't sweet-talk me about death," Achilles snaps.
"Better to be a poor man's half-starved farm hand
than king of the played-out dead." He turns his hopes
to hearing news about his distant homeland,
imagining men mistreating his old father,
asking about the son he never knew—
concerns Odysseus shares. How much he'd rather
be alive! He doesn't say "like you."

Revisions:
S1L7-10 was "As much as calls him liar—which he is. / Although he stuck to facts in his report, / he mentioned no apology: there's none. / Nor is Achilles wrong."
S1L13 was "his friends. He'll say whatever gets results."
S1L14-16 was "To him, Achilles is a pride-mad stomper, / sharp as a blade but wobbly in the hilts, / dangerous to rely on. Blinded by temper,"
S1L15 "hilt" was "hilts"
S2L1-2 was "Years later, on the shore of death's domain, / Odysseus meets long-dead Achilles' shade"
S2L12 "like" was "Like"