I.

Clouds have enveloped the mountain
losing its peak in the sky
which like an embroidered dress
covers everything
encircling with its holy
the body of the earth
humming ceaselessly
and us mortals below
with friendship joy
joining limbs
like our works when we look upon them
and when they are complete

Strife stands apart
parting one into many

II.

Sky dark
sea grey blue
trees acquiescing to gusts of wind
everything obeys the sky
bowing, rooted to the earth
only a ship in motion
has volition to resist
a machine’s volition
invisible to us
propels it onward
life is that which leaves
motion volition
forward
what parts the volition of others
from the sky?
what parts it
from its roots in the earth?

III.

Is the departure
the journey
just a working
of sky?

if fate is the sky
one which
comes from somewhere overhead
one which
like war or earthquakes
finds you.
The name of the unknown was always Sky.

*From “Cicada”, New Directions. Translated from Greek by Brian Sneeden.