This is not Sisyphus.
He’s not pushing something heavy. But i figure, he’s carrying around something heavy, + that counts.
Over The Hill
First, let us talk of being at the top. There needs to be a conscious pausing at the crest of each hill. You can see the most from up there + judge the total veranda of where you’ve been + grasp choice of paths leading you down. Repeat.
Stopping to think + forgetting to start again. Beginner's mind, as Buddhists say — we all will say.
The bear went over the mountain, the mountain, the mountain. The bear went over the mountain, to see what he could see. He saw another mountain, a mountain, a mountain...
Sisyphus was the son of a Thessalian king. He was a street thug who passed the time robbing + murdering travelers. He even betrayed secrets of the gods, which is never a good thing. He chained up Thanatos, aka demon of death, so that no human needed to die. Hades, god of the underworld found out + got POed.
Over The Hill
First, let us talk of being at the top. There needs to be a conscious pausing at the crest of each hill. You can see the most from up there + judge the total veranda of where you’ve been + grasp choice of paths leading you down. Repeat.
Stopping to think + forgetting to start again. Beginner's mind, as Buddhists say — we all will say.
The bear went over the mountain, the mountain, the mountain. The bear went over the mountain, to see what he could see. He saw another mountain, a mountain, a mountain...
Sisyphus was the son of a Thessalian king. He was a street thug who passed the time robbing + murdering travelers. He even betrayed secrets of the gods, which is never a good thing. He chained up Thanatos, aka demon of death, so that no human needed to die. Hades, god of the underworld found out + got POed.
Sisyphus’ punishment is legendary. He was forced to roll a boulder up a mountain, when he reaches the top, the stone tumbled back down. + that’s what he’s doing right now.
Camus reckoned Sisyphus as the absurd hero who lives life to the fullest, hates death, + is condemned to a meaningless task.
Lets just take that w/ a grain of salt, shall we?
-from the triptych / 100 into 3
He is very buff, however.
ReplyDeleteIt's all downhill from here!
ReplyDeleteyou know there are a lot of guys i know that come home from work each day feeling just like him...the view from the top allows us to see the next hill, but first we must walk through the valley...
ReplyDeleteThank gawd I had some interesting experiences in my life, and looking back, I can say... at least I was never condemned to a meaningless task! Great post, and Happy "Theme Thursday."
ReplyDeleteThanks for the background - interesting. I agree with the need to stop at the top and take stock. Something we all tend to forget - the need to rethink causes and targets. As always, an enjoyable TT contribution.
ReplyDeleteHeh-heh, I like ArtSparker's comment.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for over the hill to get up enough speed to start up the next mountain. Happy TT
ReplyDeleteNow if I were Sisyphus, I'd jump up on the boulder on the way down and enjoy and wild thrill-seeking ride down the hill...then it would be worth the effort to take the boulder back up. It's all perspective...
ReplyDeleteWhoa! wise words to follow to be sure!
ReplyDeleteLOTS of daily workers feel the same way, day in and day out. Bit of a hero in those who keep at it, regardless.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless Google Earth!
ReplyDeleteYeah, you know, I never did get why Camus thought Sisyphus was any kind of hero. He was considered the "craftiest of men" and nobody, gods or humans, trusted him as far as they could kick him. Unless ol' Albert thought being a one-man mafia was "living life to the fullest". Me, I don't buy it.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm one who tends to pause at the top of the hill - the view is good and I'm liable to get some great photos up there.
Good take on the theme!
Hmmm . . I know how he feels some days.
ReplyDeleteHee-hee! me, too!
ReplyDelete"Let us talk of being at the top." Initially, I read this as, "Let us talk of being ON top." Never mind.
ReplyDeleteNow see! I am not that stupid after all! I knew who Sisyphus was. I also know about tantalus! I have redeemed myself! LOL!
ReplyDeleteSusan; you noticed!
ReplyDeleteVE; sounds like the snowball effect to me.
Roy; May Camus was jealous...
Ronda; RONDA!
Otin; I knew you knew! Smarty pants!
this is the most interesting take on TT so far. nice piece.
ReplyDeleteart sparker has a point...but I digress, you are absolutely right and now I must think about going to work tomorrow--where is my boulder?...great post-c
ReplyDeleteThere needs to be a conscious pausing at the crest of each hill.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true...
I dread the day when I realize that I've been condemned to the continuous mundane... I'm working hard not to let that happen!
Whether it's pushing or carrying that weight which rests on our shoulders, we do strive to make it to the top. Most of us will fail in this but we can't ignore the view whilst climbing...the weight becomes less so the further up we go, yes?
ReplyDeletehe is a sun god of course
ReplyDeletesomething like a more heroic dung beetle
trickster too
and father to odysseus Laertes was just the man his mother married..
his daughter, a shape shifter
the first mythological story I ever told
this is his home. I like to think it is the boulder he had to push
http://www.flickr.com/
photos/
46159968@N00/
411306282/
If it doesn't load, look up acrocorinthus
the view from up there is fantastic, you can see a big part of the mainland. that is how he knew th secrets of zeus, he saw him. the problems started when he told the girls father...
Greek mythology is so enchanting and ensnaring! Your picture is inspiring.
ReplyDeletei love your illustration, very poignant and also clever
ReplyDeleteits such a tragic myth, i'm sure its to do with the mundanity and pointlessness
v. good take on over the hill!
Interesting post; I can relate to feeling trapped by the mundane at times...trying not to be is an adventure of its own. Happy Sunday.
ReplyDeletegreat great post! the all of it!!!
ReplyDeleteWOW...spot-on again, Jayne!
ReplyDeleteYou know what? I just realized I signed up, like, three weeks ago or something, for "Theme Thursdays"...and then forgot all about it! Shame on moi'!!
Well, Camus did take some creative liberties in making Sisyphus a bit too larger than life for mythology. The existentialists need their gods too, just as absurd as everybody else's :)
ReplyDelete