Uncle History in the Nursery

Ah those early days beside the fire

Uncle History being read to

By his father (who wears 

A toga-like affair

And scratches himself

Since with clothing

Came bed bugs)

“Gilgamesh” 

“Enkidu and the netherworld”

Lost objects

Tears in the afterlife

Trials in this one

Heroism unrewarded

All adventures

Meaningless 

“Isn’t it lovely,”

Says his father

(Who looks like Karl Marx

In a serape)

“To think 

How you’ll

Keep track 

Of this tale

As it unfolds

Forever?”

Uncle barely remembers

As he was playing

With his Sumerian legos—

Puzzle pieces

That cast no shadows