THE “NEW” MYTH OF SISYPHUS

The “New” Myth of Sisyphus BY BAO DUONG ‘23

Rolling it up at a leisurely pace he bears the rock on his firm right shoulder . Saline sweat covers an immortal face brushing against the rough and tough boulder .

Once in a while, Sisyphus takes his rest and looks back down the mountain’s fine incline eyeing yesterday’s footprints, and depressed impact craters from his previous grinds .

O! How he has lost track of endless time! His hands now numbed greatly from calluses his arms strong enough to build palaces . Long gone were hopes of a successful climb .

But his heart now burns with grand contentment no longer filled with scorn and resentment . For he wasn’t bound forever in chains to be pecked and healed, again, pecked and healed! Nor was he forever starved of a meal a scrawny skeleton that slowly wanes! How could he not accept his work with zeal? Thus, he pushes the rock again today . like a robot, he machines ceaselessly fully zoning in, not swaying away . He chases an unknown goal ruthlessly .

THUMP!

Without any progress checks and limits he had surged onwards with intense vigor and now weight lifts from his burdened figure as it settles on a sunken summit .

Yet, feeling not even a little glad silent Sisyphus stands startlingly sad listening to the weak wind whistling by . For the gods have seen the comfort he had punishing with boredom to drive him mad . Thus, perhaps to his punishers he cries: “Behold! Here is a man without purpose! No doubt the biggest clown in the circus!”