Olympic Dating Game

Hail sisters, daughters of almighty Zeus

holy warden and watcher of this land from high throne

atop Olympus.  How now sisters alike in brood

yet contrary in nature, tragic Melpomene and

witty Thalia, carry whispered thought to voice? 

Phronesis, they murmur, and I do start.

Phronesis, Antipater’s pride, born under Mt. Olympus

beside the plains of Thessaly competed in the

life’s most sacred game.  She, fair Eudaimonia did challenge

Phronesis in single contest, strapping stripling against

maddening maiden, a fierce battle.  He and she

each desirous to best the other.

As they struggled, fathers alike, Antipater

and Diokles watched their children.  They  

whispering in cahoots with secret smiles and

smug laughter.  “For all your boy’s intelligence,

friend he meets his match in my Eudaimonia,”

Diokles boasted, prideful and glowing. 

Since Ithaka rang with Odysseus’ return,

rinsing those suitors’ foul stench to clear island

air, have none but Eudaimonia

challenged Phronesis as Penelope tested

long-gone Odyesseus in such a game to prove

his rightful place beside her as husband.

Antipater remarked, “dear friend, it appears

your Eudaimonia too meets her match in my

Phronesis.”  He pointed up the mountainside

path where the young ones walked, hand-in-hand. 

“He won,” Antipater smiled, looking to Diokles,

whose face fell downcast.  Who lamented, “but I just lost.”