Ulysses By The Merlion (1979) by Edwin Thumboo

Ulysses by the Merlion by Edwin Thumboo

 I have sailed many waters,

Skirted islands of fire,

Contended with Circe

Who loved the squeal of pigs;

 

Passed Scylla and Charybdis

To seven years with Calypso,

Heaved in battle against the gods.

 

Beneath it all

I kept faith with Ithaca, travelled,

Travelled and travelled,

Suffering much, enjoying a little;

Met strange people singing

New myths; made myths myself.

 

But this lion of the sea

Salt-maned, scaly, wondrous of tail,

Touched with power, insistent

On this brief promontory ...

Puzzles.

Nothing, nothing in my days

Foreshadowed this

Half-beast, half-fish,

This powerful creature of land and sea.

                                           

Peoples settled here,

Brought to this island

The bounty of these seas,

Built towers topless as Ilium's.

                                              

They make, they serve,

They buy, they sell.

Despite unequal ways,

Together they mutate,

Explore the edges of harmony,

Search for a centre;

Have changed their gods,

Kept some memory of their race

In prayer, laughter, the way

Their women dress and greet.

They hold the bright, the beautiful,

Good ancestral dreams

Within new visions,

So shining, urgent,

Full of what is now.

Perhaps having dealt in things,

Surfeited on them,

Their spirits yearn again for images,

Adding to the Dragon, Phoenix,

Garuda, Naga, those Horses of the Sun,

This lion of the sea,

This image of themselves.

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Ulysses By The Merlion (1979) by Edwin Thumboo 

I have sailed many waters,

Skirted islands of fire,

Contended with Circe

Who loved the squeal of pigs;

Passed Scylla and Charybdis

To seven years with Calypso,

Heaved in battle against the gods.

Beneath it all

I kept faith with Ithaca, travelled,

Travelled and travelled,

Suffering much, enjoying a little;

Met strange people singing

New myths; made myths myself.

But this lion of the sea

Salt-maned, scaly, wondrous of tail,

Touched with power, insistent

On this brief promontory ...

Puzzles.

Nothing, nothing in my days

Foreshadowed this

Half-beast, half-fish,

This powerful creature of land and sea.

Peoples settled here,

Brought to this island

The bounty of these seas,

Built towers topless as Ilium's.

They make, they serve,

They buy, they sell.

Despite unequal ways,

Together they mutate,

Explore the edges of harmony,

Search for a centre;

Have changed their gods,

Kept some memory of their race

In prayer, laughter, the way

Their women dress and greet.

They hold the bright, the beautiful,

Good ancestral dreams

Within new visions,

So shining, urgent,

Full of what is now.

Perhaps having dealt in things,

Surfeited on them,

Their spirits yearn again for images,

Adding to the Dragon, Phoenix,

Garuda, Naga, those Horses of the Sun,

This lion of the sea,

This image of themselves.

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Edwin Thumboo (1933– ):  

Edwin Thumboo is one of the pioneers of modern English literature in Singapore and is often called the "unofficial poet laureate of Singapore." Born on November 22, 1933, in Singapore, he is a poet, literary critic, editor, and professor. His poetry is deeply influenced by history, mythology, multiculturalism, and nation-building. After Singapore gained independence in 1965, Thumboo believed that literature should help create a national identity. His poems frequently combine Western classical myths with Asian culture to express the hopes and struggles of modern Singapore. His best-known collections include Gods Can Die, Ulysses by the Merlion, and A Third Map. He received the Cultural Medallion and the S.E.A. Write Award for his contributions to literature.

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 Summary of "Ulysses by the Merlion"

Ulysses by the Merlion is one of Edwin Thumboo's most celebrated poems. It combines Greek mythology with Singapore's national symbol—the Merlion—to explore the themes of identity, nation-building, cultural heritage, and the search for belonging. The poem is written as a dramatic monologue in which the ancient Greek hero Ulysses (Odysseus) visits Singapore and reflects upon the remarkable transformation of the island nation. Through this imaginative encounter, Thumboo connects the ancient world with the modern world and suggests that every nation, like every individual, must discover its own identity.

In Ulysses by the Merlion, Edwin Thumboo argues that a nation's identity is created not by a single race, religion, or tradition, but by the harmonious blending of many cultures. By bringing the legendary Greek hero Ulysses to modern Singapore, the poet shows that the search for identity is a timeless human journey. The Merlion becomes a powerful symbol of Singapore's transformation from a small island into a confident, multicultural nation. The poem celebrates unity, diversity, resilience, and the continuing process of building a shared national future.

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The poem begins with Ulysses introducing himself by recalling his legendary adventures. He says that he has sailed across many seas, travelled through dangerous waters, and survived countless hardships. He remembers his encounters with Circe, the enchantress who transformed men into pigs, his escape from the deadly sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis, his long stay with Calypso, and even his struggles against the gods themselves. Throughout these trials, he remained faithful to his homeland, Ithaca. Although he suffered greatly, he continued his journey with determination and courage.

These opening lines establish Ulysses as a symbol of experience, endurance, wisdom, and human perseverance. He has witnessed civilizations rise and fall and has encountered extraordinary wonders across the world. Readers naturally assume that nothing can surprise such an experienced traveller.

However, everything changes when Ulysses arrives in Singapore and encounters the Merlion. Standing before this strange creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish, he is completely astonished. He admits that despite all his adventures, he has never seen anything comparable. The Merlion puzzles him because it combines land and sea into one symbolic figure. It represents both strength and adaptability, mystery and confidence. Unlike the mythical creatures of ancient Greece that often brought destruction, the Merlion symbolizes creation, prosperity, and hope.

The poem then shifts its attention from mythology to Singapore itself. Ulysses observes how different communities have settled on this small island. People from diverse races, languages, and religions have come together to build a successful nation. They fish, trade, construct tall buildings, and participate in commerce. Singapore appears as a place of energy, discipline, and progress. The poet celebrates the country's remarkable economic and social development despite its limited geographical size.

At the same time, Thumboo recognizes that building a nation is not a simple task. The people come from different backgrounds and possess different customs, beliefs, and traditions. Yet instead of allowing these differences to divide them, they gradually learn to live together. They search for harmony while preserving memories of their ancestral cultures. Their prayers, festivals, clothing, and everyday customs remind them of their origins even as they participate in a modern multicultural society.

The poem emphasizes that national identity does not require abandoning one's cultural heritage. Instead, Singapore creates a new identity by combining many traditions into one shared future. Ancient symbols such as the dragon, phoenix, garuda, and naga continue to exist alongside of the Merlion. These mythological figures represent the cultural diversity of Singapore's Chinese, Malay, Indian, and other communities. The Merlion becomes a new national symbol that unites all these traditions without erasing them.

Toward the end of the poem, Ulysses realizes that the Merlion is more than a statue. It reflects the people themselves. Like the Merlion, Singaporeans combine different cultural influences while creating something entirely new. The creature becomes "this image of themselves"—a symbol of national confidence, unity, and multicultural identity.

The poem concludes on an optimistic note. The Merlion represents not merely Singapore's past but also its future. Just as Ulysses spent his life searching for home, Singapore continues its own journey toward a stronger national identity. The poem suggests that identity is never fixed but is constantly shaped by history, culture, memory, and collective effort.

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Glossary of Important Words

Word/Phrase	Meaning
Ulysses	The Roman name for Odysseus, the hero of Homer's The Odyssey.
Merlion	Singapore's national symbol with a lion's head and a fish's body.
Skirted	Travelled around or passed along the edge of.
Circe	A Greek enchantress who transformed Odysseus' men into pigs.
Scylla	A six-headed sea monster in Greek mythology.
Charybdis	A dangerous whirlpool opposite Scylla.
Calypso	A sea goddess who kept Ulysses on her island for seven years.
Ithaca	The homeland of Ulysses.
Myths	Traditional stories explaining cultural beliefs or history.
Salt-maned	Having a mane covered with sea salt; describes the Merlion poetically.
Scaly	Covered with fish scales.
Wondrous	Extraordinary or amazing.
Promontory	A high point of land extending into the sea.
Foreshadowed	Gave an early indication or warning.
Half-beast, half-fish	Description of the Merlion.
Bounty	Abundance or plentiful resources.
Illium (Ilium)	Another name for the ancient city of Troy.
Mutate	To change or develop into a new form.
Harmony	Peaceful cooperation among different groups.
Centre	A common identity or shared purpose.
Ancestral	Related to one's ancestors or heritage.
Urgent	Important and demanding immediate attention.
Surfeited	Filled to excess; having too much.
Yearn	To long deeply for something.
Dragon	A mythical creature significant in Chinese culture.
Phoenix	A mythical bird symbolizing rebirth and renewal.
Garuda	The divine eagle in Hindu mythology and the vehicle of Lord Vishnu.
Naga	A mythical serpent in Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
Image	A symbol or representation.
Identity	The unique character of a person or nation.
Nation-building	The process of creating a united and stable nation.

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Important Mythological References

Ulysses (Odysseus) – Represents the experienced traveller searching for home, wisdom, and meaning.

Circe – Symbolizes temptation and distraction.

Scylla and Charybdis – Represent life's unavoidable dangers and difficult choices.

Calypso – Symbolizes comfort that delays personal duty.

Merlion – Symbolizes modern Singapore, unity, strength, and multicultural identity.

Dragon, Phoenix, Garuda, and Naga – Represent the diverse cultural traditions that contribute to Singapore's national identity.

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Major Themes

• National identity and nation-building
• Unity in diversity
• Multiculturalism
• Myth and modernity
• History and cultural memory
• Migration and settlement
• Tradition and progress
• Human perseverance and exploration

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Symbols in the Poem

• Merlion – Singapore's identity, unity, and national pride.
• Ulysses – Human experience, exploration, and the search for belonging.
• Sea – Journey, change, and discovery.
• Ithaca – Home and the desire for belonging.
• Dragon, Phoenix, Garuda, Naga – Cultural diversity and heritage.
• Towers – Economic progress and modern development.
• Island – Singapore as a meeting place of cultures.

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