17. taut ribbons

Companionship of pullers








We tried to save his life

The boy was sick and in bed

The bed high on the hill

The bed his deathbed if nothing were done

Before to impede it

The bed his carapace of burning brimstone

Of red hot iron

His Nessus’ shirt.



Long ribbons white and red

Were brought down to the road’s rim

So that all that wished to could also pull

And hard.



We tried to save the sick boy’s life

With long ribbons doggedly pulled

By all the stopped automobiles’ drivers

Striving toughly on the road at the foot

Of the hill.



Unfazed disease

Idle effort

All to no avail

Alas

Another instance

Of the ah all so truthful saying

Everything comes to nothing

After the striving.



Taut ribbons

Totally ineffective

Futile struggle

The sick unmovable

Soon apt pasture for the vultures and the rodents

And such.