What does the sea symbolize in this passage?
loyalty among shipmates
obstacles on life's journey
the knowledge of leaders
hospitality among friends
now zeus the lord of cloud roused in the north
a storm against the ships, and driving veils
of squall moved down like night on land and sea.
the bows went plunging at the gust; sails cracked and
lashed out strips in the big wind.
we saw death in that fury, dropped the yards, unshipped
the oars, and pulled for the nearest lee:
then two long days and nights we lay offshore worn out
and sick at heart, tasting our grief,
until a third dawn came with ringlets shining. then we
put up our masts, hauled sail, and rested,
letting the steersmen and the breeze take over.
i might have made it safely home, that time,
but as i came round malea the current
took me out to sea, and from the north
a fresh gale drove me on, past cythera.
nine days i drifted on the teeming sea
before dangerous high winds.