Mirror-Walled Ways

Go now into the city's glittering maze.
Trust for your life to this slender thread
walking the mirror-walled winding ways.

A breath of breeze; your human scent betrays
you to the Minotaurs, who will want you dead.
Go now into the city's glittering maze

and pay your passage-fee to those whose gaze
would turn you to stone, if you held up your head
walking the mirror-walled winding ways.

The Sphinx is waiting, ancient of days
her riddles all long solved, she lingers unfed.
Go now into the city's glittering maze

peopled by shadows of the monsters who amazed
the folk of long-ago, whom fearful legends led
walking the mirror-walled winding ways.

Mirror-walls reflect the hero's arms and face.
Who is the monster? Who are we, who said:
Go you into the city's glittering maze
where we still walk the mirror-walled winding ways.