'A Sisyphus Moment' by Donal Mahoney

​A Sisyphus Moment
 
There’s a force that makes
a boulder hard to push up a hill.
And there’s always a boulder
and always a hill when it comes to 
helping the poor find something
to eat, somewhere to live, a job
they can go to every day.
 
Sometimes the boulder slips
and rolls back downhill
and Sisyphus jumps aside.
Accidents happen.
 
But sometimes the one 
who owns that hill says no
and blows his trumpet and gives
the boulder a mighty shove
and Sisyphus gets run over.
 
Then the poor must wait
a century longer
for another Sisyphus
to volunteer and get
behind the boulder.
 
No wonder the poor
are getting together
and grumbling louder.
They know Sisyphus isn't
the answer to the problem.
They must push the boulder.
 
 
Donal Mahoney