Sisyphus wears an old man’s back
weathered, pale and pitted
yet adequate for the purpose
of pushing, rolling, bending
Until it isn’t
and they replace him
with someone cheaper, inexperienced
less mythological
unlikely to appeal to the Gods
groan, or join a union
become a symbol of something greater
a philosophical backwater
is required
undiscussed, unnoticed
forgotten, amidst the tumult
the noise of modern living
The parents
of our parents
if I remember correctly
used to mark his silhouette
against the skyline
if the sun was shining
not exactly a lazy man
but he could have rolled
more quickly
with greater emphasis on satisfaction
shown some gratitude
for the opportunity
Steven Taylor
Picture Nick Victor
Picture Nick Victor
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