The Beast

 by Brett Rutherford

     Adapted from Leonidas, The Greek Anthology, vi, 262

There was never enough meat for me.
Night after night the flock I slew.
By day I raided the cattle-pen
and sent the herdsmen running.
The howling of dogs did not deter me;
     by fang and claw
     I reduced their number.
(Unfit to eat, I left them
     for crows and scorpions.)

One night as I crept silently
toward a sheep-fold,
Eualces the Cretan
rose up and killed me.
Just like that!

Now from this pine I hang
     and rot. Winds
tear off tufts of my fur,
     and birds annoy me.

Each day there is less of me.
My shadow, four legs in leap,
a terror for all, thins out.
Now no one looks up
and cries, “Lion!”