A simple movement, settling back against a rope, evoking entire lives spent leaning into comfort and quiet, disengaging from din and adventure.

See also the bestellar reviews, complete with rich quote-mosaics, of Adam Nicolson’s magnificent Why Homer Matters and Logue’s War Music, a muscular rendition of several books of the Iliad. 

‘Elsewhere late afternoon goes lazily enough.

And yawning as he leaves his tent

To sigh and settle back against a rope

(As some men settle into life

Quiet in quiet rooms, supplied

With all they need by mute, obedient hands).’

Source: Christopher Logue, War Music: An account of Books 1-4 and 16-19 of Homer’s Iliad, London: Faber and Faber, 2001, p. 183

Photo credit: unsplash.com – Abigail Keenan