Minotaur's Tears
Do not look so shocked.
Even my kind can cry.
You would too, if you were as lost.
Words killed me.
Great hero, who knows so much,
tell me this.
What am I?

Monster.
Is that all?
I thought I was more.
Gods whisper to me.
Did you know that?
And I, who never spoke before this,
I know the weight of words.
They killed me you know.

So you said.
So impatient.
But I've lived here long,
and the twisting ways,
and looping paths
have found their way into me.
I am sorry I am not as straight
as you wish me to be.
I am the Labyrinth, after all.

Strange beast.
Yes.
Yes, I suppose so.
I must yield my house to you now.
You are welcome to it.
'Ware, lest its stone
become your heart.
Ah, I can already
feel it shifting.
My soul is much lighter now.

Does an animal have a soul?
I don't know.
Does a man?
I can feel mine.
It's light with sun
and green hills.
Oh, the ocean!
My father's realm.
I can hear it singing.
Such beauty, after all.

What do you know of splendor?

I've never seen it of course.
I am lost here.
In halls of stone.
But even I know what beauty is.
I can distantly remember sky.
Sun and cloud.
I imagine you are beautiful.
My visitors always are.
I am beautiful.

You are hideous.
I live. Life is beautiful.
No matter how short.
The thread the Fates cut
is gold for everyone.
Even you, cruel as you are.
Hero, tell me quick.
What am I?

You are mad.

Perhaps.
If I was able, I would laugh.
You, with your new
stone-egg of a heart,
and rock hardened soul,
would call me mad?
You chose this fate.
You walked in and took my place.
You made yourself my heir.

Coward. You fear death.
I grieve for you, my poor hero.
I am free now,
but your prison is worse than mine.
I mourn for you,
jailed by your own will.
I was not here by my choice.
Condemned for no crime of my own.
Slain for my inoffenses.

Your death was decreed.

Ah! I know it.
The words of others
ever were believed.
What tales did they carry,
these walls?
What lies were spoken
beyond their nuetral grey?
He who rules,
and she who bore me,
do they sorrow?
Their words killed me.

You are vanquished.
Hero, did you think
you had beaten me?
Foolish man,
had I desired,
it would be you lying here.
I have kept house
for long in this place.
It was time to pass it on.
But just remember me.
I am a fighter as has not been.
And you have not truly won.

Why are you not dead?
Hero, are you well?
Can't you see?
I am already dead.
It's all in words.
By words did my father come to be,
By words so did I.
By words I was born,
And because of your words,
I die.
But before that . . .
I had things to say as well.

Be silent!

I have.
That time is over now.
Would you quiet me faster?
I have given you my home,
you have taken my life,
do you dare now deny me?
Poor hero.
The stone is crushing you
swifter than it did me.
It seems you are not as strong.

You mock me?

Peace.
I do not.
But even were I doing so,
I won't for much longer.
Watch youself, hero.
I know this maze,
and it tells me about the greater
one outside.
Worse fates than mine
await you,
and words are far more lethal
than you know.

Minotaur, why do you weep?

My tears are for myself.
Joy.
I will be free, very soon now.
Everything is lighter.
My tears are for those outside.
Pity.
Their shame will at last
be erased.
My tears are for you.
Though you find your way out again,
You have lost something here.

Minotaur, I know you.

We know each other.
We are each other,
cursed and blessed,
fair and dark,
seeker and sought.
I am you.
We are halves.
Quick, tell me hero,
what are you?

I am ...
what?
I do not know.
Wise creature,
won't you tell me?
I am alone.
Minotaur?
Minotaur . . .