Myth by Muriel Rukeyser

Muriel Rukeyser

Myth by Muriel Rukeyser

T.

Dear T.: work hard. Work

damn

hard. You understand: you can take care of yourself, you don’t need to rely on anybody else. You can do it.

Myth

Muriel Rukeyser

Long afterward, Oedipus, old and blinded, walked the

roads. He smelled a familiar smell. It was

the Sphinx Oedipus said, “I want to ask one question.

Why didn’t I recognize my mother?” “You gave the

wrong answer,” said the Sphinx “But that was what

made everything possible,” said Oedipus “No,” she said.

“When I asked, What walks on four legs in the morning,

two at noon, and three in the evening, you answered,

Man You didn’t say anything about woman.”

“When you say Man,” said Oedipus, “you include women

too. Everyone knows that.” She said, “That’s what

you think.”

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