The sun weaves our death
        by day, the moon by night,
        for, alas! God nodded
        and forgot to create
        a permanent Penelope
        to unweave on the sly
        Laertes' and all our shrouds
        and thus thwart her and all our suitors:
        Mishap, Sickness, Senescence and Death.
        Odysseus did not come home
        as Homer claimed he did
        to slay the would-be slayers of his honor.
        Penelope was forced to finish the shroud
        and choose a suitor:  she chose Death.
        Laertes died and wore his tardy raiment.
        So no shrouds are unwoven anymore
        and we must all go sooner or later
        to the tailor's for the final fitting.
        Oh well, don't fret about it.
        At least it is one style guaranteed
        not to go out of fashion.  There are no
        ten best dressed men or women
        in the Elysian fields or Hades.

        June 23, 1970