The Death of Empedokles - Momus

Empedokles the philosopher famously declared

That everything is made of fire and water, earth and air

He came from Agrigentum on the Sicilian plain

And also said that motion is the only kind of change

Straub & Huillet made four films of the death of Empedokles

And each one showed the Holderlin play

With tiny differences

Our philosopher hero

Stands in the wood and sighs

That the townspeople have kicked him out

Because he claims to be divine

The rustling flick of a lizard, the constant change of light

The passing clouds, the sound of birds

And the wind that stirs the pines

Empedokles climbs the volcano

To throw himself right in

The townsfolk seem to change their minds

And come to plead with him

The bark of a dog, the crow of a cock

And the sound of a faraway jet

Empedokles, with a mind to die, ascends the volcano summit

The horrible smell of sulphur, lightning bright or dim

A philosopher up on Etna

Is now jumping off the rim