BY JAN HAAG
FROM THE JOCASTA POEMS
#16 -- DEATH
"Today
Oedipus blinded himself, and is preparing
to wander off as a pilgrim.
He likes to suffer;
drama was lacking in his life. He'd become a
house-husband
and father, a little plump around the middle.
He
wasn't about to let the drought be caused by nature.
Teiresias
predicted twenty happy years.
The children are grown. I'm weary of
humans'
needs, men's drama. Life is so simple, so beautiful.
But Oedipus, as so many men, is addicted to anguish,
addicted
to creating problems out of the nature of things.
So be it. I have
had more than I ever dreamed.
Surely someday a time will come when
man will agree to happiness.
After he learns to save the autumn
leaves, man will invent death."
So saying, being human, she hanged
herself.
Copyright © 2000 Jan Haag
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Jan Haag may be reached via e-mail: jhaag@u.washington.edu
George Coluzzi
I Am Innuit
McDonald Observatory
BY JAN HAAG