The Crown of Sisyphus

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Dear Reader,

 

Sisyphus was the King of Ephyra (now Corinth). Considered the craftiest, most scheming of men, he betrayed and tricked the gods, tried to kill his brother, deceived his wife, and was only interested in advancing his own welfare, heedless of what damage he did to others.  His punishment by Zeus was especially heinous, as he would forever push a heavy rock up a hill only to have it roll down before he reached the top.  Many of our own trials and tribulations feel like this.  No matter how hard we try, it seems we can never win.

 

Rick

 

 

The Crown of Sisyphus

     …The unjust trials of Life…

I wear the crown of Sisyphus¹

Upon my sweat-stained brow.

I’m not relation to that King

But bear his burden now

 

I’m not the son of Aeolus²

Ne’er killed my guests at feast³

Nor sought to kill Salmoneus⁴

Or tricked Lord o’er deceased⁵

 

I angered not the King of gods--

Told not Aegina’s hold⁶

And yet I bear burden unjust

As stone uphill I roll

 

I push this stone e’er up this hill

But down again it rolls

It is my curse to ne’er succeed--

Each failure takes its toll!

 

Yet once again, this stone I push

My muscles strained and raw

I dare not think I can’t succeed--

Perhaps that is my flaw

 

I try once more, then yet again

Unceasing, ‘tiI I die!

Oh how this burden brings me tears--

You’ll often hear me sigh

 

I wear the crown of Sisyphus

Upon a sweat-stained brow

Why were these labors made so hard?

...I'll struggle through somehow

 

 

 

©2013 Richard Puetter

All rights reserved

 

 

Notes:

 

¹Sisyphus, first King of Ephyra, now called Corinth.

 

²Aeolus was father to Sisyphus.

 

³Sisyphus was notorious for killing his guests.

 

⁴Salmoneus was the brother of Sisyphus.

 

⁵When Sisyphus arrived in Tartarus in the underworld, he tricked the god of death, Thanatos, and escaped.  With death trapped, humans couldn’t die, which greatly angered Ares, the god of war, who then intervened, returning Sisyphus to Tartarus.

 

⁶Aegina was one of the Asopides, daughters of Asopus, variously a mortal king or a river god.  Aegina was taken by Zeus and Sisyphus angered Zeus by telling Asopus her location.

Reviews

[Mark]

Rick, so much of your verse dwells in the ehtereal, the incalculable, and this is no exception...but for one whose very job is the investigation of Everything, at both ewnds of the size spectrum, should i be surprised at that? Edith Bulfinch was one of my first mentors, and her renderings of the mythologies of the Greeks and Romans has stayed with me lo! these many years. The punishment of Sisyphus was known to me, but not the indepth history. Your enlightening verse is a beacon to those of us who have opted to leave the rock in the vale betwixt hills, lean up against it and take a nap!

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Your sense of exact history - be it fictional or no always amazes me, a great read.

[Belator Books]

Sir, these lines seem to draw one to read up on your mythical muse, just for as great an understanding of the circumstances as you wield here. The knowledge presented seems a delightful dichotomy contained by such simplistic rhymes. Nicely done.

[Augustus]

Haha! This was an amazing read! I think this is a case of the frustration being so deep it's comical! I am an experimental physicist and my experiments have been failing for the last six months so I can identify with this feeling totally. I'd snatch that Sisyphus crown away from you Rick!
The structure is flawless and is a complete throwback to the good old 1800s! What I like the most about this poem is how you manage to make it sound upbeat despite the rather macabre predicament of Sisyphus! I guess we scientists need to turn failures into laughter or we'll give up all too soon! Thoroughly enjoyed this one! Great job!

[Ruth]

I am a fan of Mythology being woven through a poem...always a pleasure to read you Rick. I could feel the frustration here and defeat but then also the effort of trying to succeed...powerful message you weaved there :)
I always seem to end up feeling sorry for those punished, in films or literature! lol
Great work love xoxo

[YouoweYoupay]

I can feel the strain in my arms as I read this. The desperation aided with that never ending hope, that someday, eventually, I wii reach the peak. I liked your old-fashioned word order and the inclusion of Greek mythology to convey your idealogy. Thanks for posting. Thoroughly enjoyed. Keep writing.

[char]

I love this poem. The rhyme is perfect and the poem is just structured excellently. Mythology is interesting on it's own. But this makes it fun to learn! Now, if there were more....

[Sheila Kline]

Dear Rick!

First of all, your poem is gripping, and thought provoking with excellent meter and rhyme! But, then when is a write of yours without these values? I think never!!

Here are my thoughts about the contents:

It is a spirit determined to survive and purposed with a will of iron that allows one to fight through adversity, to continue to march toward goals through all phases of the journey--the good with the bad. Though one may encounter heart breaking difficulties, struggles beyond measure, one must continue to wage the battle that allows another opportunity to overcome the trials and tribulations that besiege! It is when one loses hope, and gives up the valiant fight that defeat is considered the winner!
Throughout history and in accounts of mythology we find an abundance of instances where “failure” turned to success. Here are three examples: Albert Einstein, Stephen King, and Thomas Edison, who is referred to as the master of trial and error-- of which it has been written:

When asked about the many thousands of failures he had when trying to create the light-bulb he famously said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

It was sheer will, courage, patience, understanding of the task, and/or persistence that allowed these individuals to claim the ultimate victory. What person or task can destroy one who upholds these virtues? It cannot be fate, as the universe gives each of us the opportunity to be successful, to overcome disturbances in the natural order of life. I believe failure results from the lack of faith in that for which we strive.
If one considers surrender and thus defeat, one shall perhaps do so in a moment of weakness. Studied and evaluated should be what knowledge has brought one to this point, which mistake/s might be corrected, is there a new path to travel in making this journey to success?
If one wears the crown of Sisyphus the crown must be a constant reminder of what happened to place the crown upon the head. There are times when one more powerful, or life’s circumstances defines such a fate. It is a mythological analogy. One cannot actually be chained to such a fate. Yes, one might feel as though he/she is destined to forever roll a ball uphill only to have to repeat the action over and over again, but in reality, one has the opportunity to use knowledge, experience, hope, motivation, and all of the tools offered by the universe to overcome the task.
I recall the saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. Great achievers don’t stop building because they don’t want to see the Coliseum in ruins. They want Rome in the days of its glory!! They are not evil as was Sisyphus, but accept the punishment that life (Zeus) meets out for mistakes, yet deem as only temporary burdens and show the strength and determination to be as keen as that of the oppressor!
Yes, one must struggle on somehow, break the curse that binds, wipe the sweat from brow, and carry on! Tomorrow is a new day, another opportunity for success. If one must wear the crown of Sisyphus, then so be it, but cast it aside and claim the victor’s cup for a job well done!
Then one may claim success and victory over the unjust trials of life!

Best Regards,
Sheila

[Rick Puetter]

Hi Sheila,

A powerful summary, and what a call to arms, a call to charge against the trials of life! There you go, Fair Lady! You'll not take anything sitting down, now will you??!

Let's both agree to fight our way forward. If we have to roll a stone up a hill pointlessly for some time, then so be it. But these trials will end, and we'll have an opportunity to push forward productively. We only need stay the course.

very best regards,

Rick

[Mark]

But Rick, can it truly be called a summary, if it contains three times the words of the thing summarized??

[Mark]

Sheila, this is a masterful amalgam of insights...I am profoundly moved to learn that you have such complexity and depth to your lovely and sensual mind!

[emmajoy]

As ever you've made more of the past and done so in your concise, metered style which always amazes me! You've moved Sisyphus into a different dimension or if you prefer, you've updated his ways so as to highlight yours and other lives perhaps more so in today's rat race. But hey, he was an evil devil, deserved his sentence. Too many of us strive to reach the stars, honestly, best we can, only to be knocked sideways by others or by fate. It's hurtful and frustrating .. but then, when you have the skill and artisttry you have, makes me wonder if literature could be your crown!