Why Orpheus Looked Back
past the treacherous gray canyons
to his left, to his right
the pungent fetor of mortals' last
breaths
Orpheus trudged upward
unsure of himself
past Tantalus' fingertip fruits
grapes, mangoes
dripping slippery juices and
breaking bones
Orpheus could not hear
his specter bride
past the palp-palp-palpitations
hellenic heart, fear
Eurydice skating three feet
behind
Orpheus knew men lied
but gods lied better
past her vanishing
past his memory
out of
Hades
mmm. gods lied better.
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