the funeral rites he refused to watch.
Sophia conveyed the invader’s remains
to Crete, whose empire disintegrated.
Nisos took credit for Crete’s downfall.
His brothers, who had failed to defeat Minos,
replenished Megara’s granaries,
and every free Attican rejoiced.
During the feast, the drunken king
grasped his lock, which had grown back gray:
Delphi, the oracle—didn’t she say
that losing my purple lock would destroy
Megara? How many midnights I wasted
fearing to receive a secret haircut!
I guess Apollo’s power is gone
and his oracle is counterfeiting
inspiration. The hexameters
his priestesses drone—pure drivel!