WITH that he gave the thralls his battle-gear. Then quickly to the house they went, while he Drew near the fruitful vineyard on his quest. He found not Dolius there, as he went down Through the big plot, nor any of his sons Or slaves. It chanced that they had gone to gather Stones for the vineyard wall, and the old man Was at their head. And so he found his father Alone, in the well-ordered vineyard, digging About a plant, clad in a filthy coat Patched and unseemly; and around his shins Were laced a pair of mended ox-hide leggings To save him from the scratches; and he wore Gloves on his hands by reason of the thorns, And on his head he had a goat-skin cap; And so he nursed his grief. But when Odysseus, That sore-tried goodly man, saw him with age So worn, and in such grief of heart, he stood Beneath a pear-tree tall and shed a tear. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MAPLE AND SUMACH by CECIL DAY LEWIS HIS RETIREMENT by PHILIP AYRES CHERRY-BUDS by GAMALIEL BRADFORD THE SEA-POPPY by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES THE OLD THIRTEEN by CHARLES TIMOTHY BROOKS TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 4. FORMS ETERNAL AS THE MOUNTAINS by EDWARD CARPENTER |