4 5 1 20 8 // 2 5 4
by DREW SKELTON
How much I have suffered!
washed and dressed in clothes that smelled of incense
let the gods be witness--
I used to be a child, but now I understand
What crazy arrogance!
But I do not blame her.
I cared for you and loved you.
Stay with me here, and always think of me.
Notes:
Drew remixed words and phrases from Emily Wilson's translation of Homer's Odyssey to reflect particular characters or moments from the Epic of Gilgamesh. This piece recalls Enkidu's final days as he curses Shamash for leading him to civilization and his eventual death.
The numbers below the title correspond to Odyssey book numbers. Drew devised the title by associating book numbers with letters of the alphabet (e.g., book 1 = A, book 20 = T). The list of numbers also indicates the book from which each line in the poem has been drawn (e.g., line 1 comes from book 4, line 4 from book 20).
