Escape Of Sisyphus Poem by Barry Middleton
Escape Of Sisyphus
I am cursed like Sisyphus
my deceits were minor
and yet the gods conspired
to create my endless burden
I cried to the Universe
I called to great Olympus
for forgiveness and release
and yet my sorrows grew
I surrender to the gods
and push my abysmal stone
but with each journey
the hill is ground to dust
the stone itself is worn
the slope to home is easy
I thus release my charge
and I will see it through
millstones grind the grain
but grain grinds the stone
I will defeat the gods
the mountain is only dust
Dear Barry, as far as I know, in the history of literature we, two, are the only ones who see the myth of Sisyphus from that point of view.I like your details and imagery which prove Sisyphus' optimism to overpass the punishment of gods.
I have understood the intentions of the poem.In mine too what is to be noticed is the independence of the human being [Sisyphus] from gods.He likes his labour, he means to go on without the help of gods, he finds pleasure to see that the human kind can amid the labour, the pain can enjoy the light of the stars and sun.The first two vwrses mention the epic Muse [Homer-Ilias] and aaatributes to them the story of hies perpetual laboue....Do read my notes on the poem to see more.//I have added sth more.
I think the poem can be read as if it is from the point of view of Sisyphus but my intention was to say I am like Sisyphus feeling that the gods are punishing me for my minor transgressions. The first line of the poem is - thus I was punished too - meaning I am like Sisyphus, I also have been punished unjustly. It occurred to me that this stone rolling would eventually wear down the mountain if we have an eternity to wear it down. Men and mountains after all return to dust.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/7/2024 10:38:05 AM # 1.0.0.1119
Again to the poem, thinking to translate it.I found it robust too, like the eternal rocks of the universe., like the miracle of humankind's evolution!
Thanks. This would be a good one to translate I think.