Long afterward, Oedipus, old and blinded, walked the

roads. He smelled a familiar smell. It was

the Sphinx. Oedipus said, ‘I want to ask one question.

Why didn’t I recognize my mother?’ ‘You gave the

wrong answer,’ said the Sphinx. ‘But that was what

made everything possible,’ said Oedipus. ‘No,’ she said.

‘When I asked, What walks on four legs in the morning,

two at noon, and three in the evening, you answered,

Man. You didn’t say anything about woman.’

‘When you say Man,’ said Oedipus, ‘you include women

too. Everyone knows that.’ She said, ‘That’s what

you think.’

via POEM: MYTH BY MURIEL RUKEYSER.