Pushing against Mountain and Boulder
I’m a mockery of world-bearing Atlas
With my bleeding feet and bruised shoulder
I reach the pinnacle at last, and again
My rock rolls away, and I scold her.
She stubbornly prolongs my task
As if she doesn’t want me to hold her.
I chase her down, she stops to ask
Why go on, as you only get older?
I bear her up in my arms again
Without so much as a word
I bring my bride up the mountain
As if I simply hadn’t heard.
Zeus had us married, and since then
I’ve been freer than a flying bird
And the envy of all earthly men.
I am proudly set apart from the herd
And work is my reward, without end.