Mnemosyne

The fruits are ripe, dipped in fire,

Cooked and sampled on earth.  And there's a law,

That things crawl off in the manner of snakes,

Prophetically, dreaming on the hills of heaven.

And there is much that needs to be retained,

Like a load of wood on the shoulders.

But the pathways are dangerous.

The captured elements and ancient laws of earth

Run astray like horses.  There is a constant yearning

For all that is unconfined.  But much needs

To be retained.  And loyalty is required.

Yet we mustn't look forwards or backwards.

We should let ourselves be cradled

As if on a boat rocking on a lake.

But what about things that we love?

We see sun shining on the ground, and the dry dust,

And at home the forests deep with shadows,

And smoke flowering from the rooftops,

Peacefully, near the ancient crowning towers.

These signs of daily life are good,

Even when by contrast something divine

Has injured the soul.

For snow sparkles on an alpine meadow,

Half-covered with green, signifying generosity

Of spirit in all situations, like flowers in May —

A wanderer walks up above on a high trail

And speaks irritably to a friend about a cross

He sees in the distance, set for someone

Who died on the path... what does it mean?

My Achilles

Died near a fig tree,

And Ajax lies in the caves of the sea

Near the streams of Skamandros —

Great Ajax died abroad

Following Salamis' inflexible customs,

A rushing sound at his temples —

But Patroclus died in the King's armor.

Many others died as well.

But Eleutherai, the city

Of Mnemosyne, once stood upon

Mount Kithaeron.  Evening

Loosened her hair, after the god

Had removed his coat.

For the gods are displeased

If a person doesn't compose

And spare himself.

But one has to do it,

And grief is soon gone.