LABYRINTH

In the half-lit
twistings, turnings,
Stink of bullshit…,
Heaven’s burnings
in the gut, the very soul…

What is this, that
you are seeking,
Hero,
here among the reeking
passages
that twist around,
and lead you into
cul-de-sacs,
hemmed in by walls
marked with the axe,
double-headed and
two-faced…?

Once upon a time you raced
in sunlight gleaming off the sea,
you sweated in your lissome grace,
by the age-twisted cypress tree,
stood tall and young, full of your years
and watched the galleys tribute-full
of youths, of maids, of parting tears
and carrying a nation’s fears
with black sheets sail
to serve the Bull…

Turn and twist,
and shy
and hold…
hide in shadow…
step out bold– 
sword sings out 
and strikes–
the air…
You hunt a thing
you know is there
deep-descending
to its lair…
Moving canny,
grip the thread
that guides you out
if you’re not dead…
A distant hostile rumbling
and cries of woe,
and grumbling
of monster
finding frightened meat…

The Beast would rather
waving wheat, and basking
in the radiant heat of white ground
tossing back the sun…
But that is not how this is done.
This labyrinth
pleases no one here,
it twists with pain,
it reeks of fear,
and no one, 
so it would appear, 
does what he will
But–
there’s this Destiny to fulfill…

No need to say, it won’t end well.

_{2004 CL Redding}