A Statue of Someone’s Father or Son

by Zebulon Huset

The snowman had to be built on the hilltop.
But the plateau only had space for one ball
and beyond that it was all slippery slope.

The plan was to not plan, just set up shop
at the base, begin a snowball we could call
“The snowman” that had to be built on the hilltop.

No one knows whose rules required us to prop
the symbol so precariously after such a haul
since around us it was all slippery slope.

The Colossus of Rhodes was merely plopped
in a harbor for fifty–four years before its fall.
But, the snowman had to be built on the hilltop.

Cold starless nights, we pray, hope, grope
for something monumentous to rise tall
above and beyond all that slippery slope.

Soon even the last echoes have danced off
and Sisyphus’ hissy fits became squalls
toppling the snowman that had to be on a hilltop
because every shrine is besieged by slippery slope.