I'll never step ashore and feel your beach br the way I felt it as a barefoot child, br or see you waver in the windy reach br of goddess-bearing sea. You were the island br Venus made with her first smile, br Zakynthos, the moment she was born. br No song embraced your leafy sky, br not even his who sang the fatal storm br and how Ulysses, his misfortunes past br and beautiful with fame, sailed home at last. br br Some will not return: I too br offend the powers that be, am banned br from home.