Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Summing Up

Pantoum for Sisyphys

I, for one, shed no tear at your plight.
No question, that mountain belongs to you.
If others weep, let them, they are fools —
for haven’t we all pushed and shoved the shameful stone?

No question. That mountain belongs to you
with its pocked surface, its massive size, its weight.
But we have all pushed and shoved the shameful stone
up the same hard, unforgiving hill.

Its pocked surface, its massive size and weight
is your life’s achievement.
That hard, unforgiving hill
the legacy you left.

What was your life’s achievement?
Murder, thievery, rape.
And the legacy you left
your heirs? Not bread but stone.

You murdered, thieved, and raped
while defying men and gods.
To your heirs: stones not bread.
Shameless, unrepentant, cruel

you defied both men and gods
and those who weep for you are fools.
You were shameless, unrepentant, cruel
and I, for one, shed no tear at your plight.