ISSUE 38
February 2008

David R. Slavitt

 

David R. Slavitt is a poet, translator, novelist, and essayist. His recent books include The Theban Plays of Sophocles (Yale University Press, 2007) and the forthcoming The Nature of Things by Lucretius (U. of California Press) and The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius (Harvard University Press).
A Consolation for Rigoletto    


At the end, Rigoletto weeps for his daughter who sings
of rejoining her mother in heaven and la la la . . .

But wake up, clown, think, and reconsider
the action. At least read the damned libretto:
she disobeyed you (well?); and she was a slut,
going off that way at the first chance to fuck
the duke (well, even so?); but worst of all
she was a melodramatic fool, which is not
what the world permits, or sensible fathers, either.

If Sparafucile hadn't killed her, you
would have been right to do the job yourself.

 

 

David R. Slavitt: Poetry
Copyright ©2008 The Cortland Review Issue 38The Cortland Review