deep, deep in the underworld of my heart,
I hear him laughing. Has he gone mad?
He pushes up, reaches heights then watches the fall
of heavy boulder descending. Push, push again,
again his life is full
of relentless repetition.
My life too is always full of heights,
then stark awareness that I must restart
after each sorrowful descent.
I'd be a fool to turn away, unwilling
to accept this absurd struggle, choosing instead to die,
get crushed by the rock, push no more.
I love my life
sentence, elevating that rock
perhaps accomplishing nothing
except my passion for pushing,
the meaning I give it.
That's enough.
He hasn't gone mad.
He laughs in my heart, at my heart, with my heart.
He's just happy.
( Submitted to Dverse Poets.)
oh i can relate as well...there are several things in my life that feel like sisyphus pushing that boulder up the hill only to find myself back at the bottom beginning again...i think much of life is learning to start pushing again....
ReplyDeleteI like the myth of Sysiphus and his dogged persistence, Myrna. I think a lot of us can identify with his ups and downs.
ReplyDeleteCreative and beautifully penned.
ReplyDeleteClever choice of myth and yes, life is an uphill struggle. Enjoyed your poem.
ReplyDeleteAfter accomplishing on something we set our sights higher and start all over again. This is a healthy phenomena. But to us it is a struggle from the bottom, not realizing it is from a higher level. Great thoughts Myrna!
ReplyDeleteHank
I can relate to his ups and downs... especially pursuing writing. Months of waiting on replies (that's like pushing boulders up hills) and getting rejections is like having to start all over again
ReplyDeleteHa, my comment disappeared......I so resonate with this poem, especially "perhaps accomplishing nothing but my passion for pushing". Story of my life, girl. I love the man who isnt mad, just happy.
ReplyDeletei'm glad about the laugh there in the close.. i def. can relate in many areas of my life as well... it can be frustrating or it can teach us to not give up..
ReplyDeleteIndeed.. Sometimes we are doing this hard work for nothing - much like Sisyphus.. But as long as we enjoy the strife maybe it's ok?
ReplyDeleteI can very well relate to this Myrna specially when writing in a second language...in spite of all the ups and downs to have that smile is all...
ReplyDeleteThis whole stanza is very beautiful and superbly profound :-)
ReplyDeleteI love my life
sentence, elevating that rock
perhaps accomplishing nothing
except my passion for pushing,
the meaning I give it.
That's enough.
"My life too is always full of heights,
ReplyDeletethen stark awareness that I must restart
after each sorrowful descent."
Very inspiring writing, smiles. Thank you for joining my prompt.
Much of what is necessary to enrich en our lives is perception--getting our mind right. I love your premise that old strong back Sysiphus learned /to love the pushing/. POWs in Viet Nam, tortured with the rope tying their hands behind their backs, as their arms were yanked up, according to John McCain, /learned to love the rope/. Kind of a Zen theme you propose. I have had over 300 IV treatments in 18 years, & now I sit steady & calm as a rock, for I /learned to love the needle/.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an interesting reworking of the Myth of Sisyphus - incidentally, one of my favourites, too, also Camus ruminating about it! Uplifting instead of depressing - lovely!
ReplyDeleteYes..Sysiphus the myth that NEVER EVER GIVES up! The struggle of up.. the fall of down..the balance of life..is where i wanna stay..but without the balance of up and down..of push and pull..or rise and fall..there can be no balance..but REAL.. and a LOVE it is to Live for me..2:)..
ReplyDeleteHope you have great today now!2..with smiles 2:):)!