I do bless the epic Muse to have honoured me,
and have revered my labour by her refference.
I would shudder, had she on my life in Hades said nothing.
No one could imagine that I'm living here thousand lifes,
as many as the times the giant rock rolls down
plus those I push it up on the stumbling slopes.
Stones have become these hands
out of my heart's stubborness and irate wrath.
Steel my armrests, hydraulic lifts,
springs propellent my leg muscles,
stony pillows the cheeks,
the huge rock upon to rest.
I do not need any succour,
not even of any Persephone or Pluto,
no need even of any favour for a different punishment.
I dignify the penalty of the very murky life.
I shiver lest the rock stand stable on the summit.
I fear to wither -in that case- motionless up there.
Soul's breath spouts from my labour's sweat.
Mute joy every arduous ascent.
I hope not to stay with vaquum hands.
Out of my flesh throes come my fate's delights.
Smiling I descent the breathing space of the slope.
My senses feel there the dark grace's benison.
And if I miss the light of the stars and that of the sun,
it's enough for me to see the mortals of the earth's mud,
beyond the crazy desperate life's denial
or slavish decency of timidity mortal,
endure their own pains under their rays' warmth.
A most substantial poem on life's rationality, or the irrational. Like Albert Camus, you use the myth of Sisyphus very effectively. I noted 2 words: 'a thousand lives' (correct) , and 'vacuum'-right spelling. Every little detail like that matters. I have to check the spelling of words even now in a dictionary. Michael.
... yes, dear Dimitrios, your poem truly deserve to be published.. ;)
Υο You can then, dear Fabrizio, subsume it into the planned compilation.
This is such a finished poem, a completely achieved poem. And yet I could add to it because is a threshold poem. I was reminded of Hamlet's cryptic statement, I COULD BE BOUND IN A NUT SHELL AND CONSIDER MYSELF KING OF INFINITE SPACE. Your poem explains Hamlet's point. Sisyphus is using his mind, spirit, body fully to make each hour of his ordeal meaningful, productive, positive. Extreme punishment has been transformed into extreme opportunity. By adopting the hill and the rock as his own identity, he subverts the ordeal as punishment and makes of it a field of triumph. Dimitrios, you have given us a new myth which contains the old myth. Nothing is lost in this transformation, but so much has been added subtly so as not to disturb the poetry of the past, the wisdom of the ancients.
I was very pleased to read your comment on this particular poem, dear Daniel.You know the miracle of the ancient greek civilization was that it were the poets who formed and changed the myths in their own works.It was not acrergy to dictate their perception of the world.That is why beyond any influence of theocratic views the proccess of history led to the democracy where it was the people who decided their own future by the human laws they voted for their state.//So I dared too here to change slightly the myth in a way no one else before dared.Thanks a lot for the kind word, dear Daniel.
Very philosophical work. Fate versus human endeavors....yes, happiness must lie in struggle rather than in expectation of a desirable outcome. Life would be drudgery if we rely too much on success n fruition of our efforts. A great write on the myth of Sisyphus. Man is condemned to struggle endlessly....he must accept it or be miserable. Life can be meaningful if we find joy in struggle. A10
Thank you, dear Nosheen.I do esteem so much your comments.This is, really, one of the few poems of mine, which I regard as a very good one.You are right in your comment.That was the target in it, you percieved it in its right meaning.Thank you so much.
I would prompt you to avoid the usage of many adjectives (they mean absolutely nothing in most cases) and to be more specific in your texts. The mind (and tongue) twisters are usually desperate attempts to impress others but almost never poetic expressions. You should also avoid the frequent referrals to Ancient Greece, deities and stories for no reason. Since you are a new writer, I would advise you to: 1) make sense and stop being abstract.2) examine and portray an comprehensible phenomenon in life or nature.3) create a simple, flowing composition. I would also advise you to stop referring to the works of other writers. Stand on your own and compose literature.