“Wild boar, to help you get strong.”
We recounted the fables, their Persian origin, the circumstances of their telling. How he loved travelers, especially from the East.
I see Aesop on his balcony, the wind making him blink his eyes; he has on dark blue trousers, yellow sash and gold blouse and carries his doll and is smiling and nodding.
Was it his profound understanding of life that made such a difference? He showed breadth of mind at all times. Revealing human character through animal traits, he taught us the comedy of our faults and aspirations.
Alcaeus has begun writing letters, to protest against this outrage in Adelphi, to alert friends, to cry out.
P
High on a hill, I sit and stare at my bare feet and try to guess how many steps they have taken.
I peer at my legs and consider the color and texture of my skin. I rub my hands over my knees and ankles.
What of Phaon’s feet, the rigging they have climbed and the decks they have walked?
Storms have crashed over him. He has held his ship to sun and stars, legs spread wide, feet on the planking.