I'm assuming that's your poem -- it's great. I love it. Didn't know you
wrote. Cool.
On Thu, Jun 23, 2016 at 5:40 AM, Donal McEvoy <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Ancient Fragments
Thrucians strut henna haired
Paint lips as they gather in
winter
Their gods spit tungsten tresses
Cobalt dots crooked eyelids
Milurians burnish jet molars
Glint jewels while burning
their dead at night
Their gods shriek in zinc
skulls
Torsos gem-studded in bronze
Uresians parade milk-white
skin
Dress for battle when birthing
in spring
Their gods flex flaxen nickel
heads
Axes clutched between bayonet
teeth
If horses had arms, the elephant hands, the lion fingers
They might sculpt, paint or potter their gods
The horse with its horse-like gods
The elephant with its elephant gods
The lion with its gods like lions
Each to its own
Each worshipping in its own likeness
But as for truth, none have known it
Neither of any gods nor any words they speak
Neither when they jest nor when they lament
Neither when they curse nor when they pray
Neither when disturbed in dreams nor awake in horror
Should they utter truth
And believed they knew it
Would wager life and children’s children for it
Never could it be known to mortals as it is to gods
Should what they thought they knew be true
Should it be truth beyond error
It would only be as if gods turned out once
Displaying make-up or jewellery or weapons
Looking like lions or horses or elephants
The truth may rise sometimes to the surface
But only briefly from its true place
Where none can go before drowning
Where what lies beneath may be mere mirage
From a surface where it is hard to see past reflection
Where distance from surface to deep cannot be fathomed
The many must plough on – all unto death.
Some few were struck
They could only stand and stare
- Is the surface deep? Is the deep surface?
Still others were seized and could not plough on
- Does surface point anywhere beyond itself?
- Reflect only itself or its gazer?
- Is there something more, something else, beyond surface?
- Can we know any above, below or beyond?
(Were such souls madder than makers of gods?
Was it less mad to just plough on, all unto death?)
The gods knew all from the beginning
But hid it from the mind of man
Yet thought all men should be fishermen
To capture what truth lies at sea
Casting finest nets furthest for most catch
Its final worth unknown
For none may make it back to shore before drowning
Dream what is beyond the sea
Dream to float afar over many currents
Dream all matter swirled down from stars
Dream beneath the shell of matter is space
Dream space filled with forces
Dream forces filled time from the beginning
Dream time with no end and no beginning
Dream there is here and now
Dream always and everywhere
Dream light so bright it fades to darkness
Dream darkness so deep it bursts into light
Care not for dreams but for your soul
The gods set the universe
So bright surfaces blind humankind
That they might with closed eyes see
Beyond their own reflection
Into the dark within themselves
Into the light within themselves
And beyond
Into the dark of what surrounds
Into the light of what surrounds
That light shine in darkness
Imagine: what is perhaps above
Imagine: what is perhaps below
Imagine: what is perhaps beyond
Imagine: that is where the light emerges
Yet know that beyond this lies nothing –
Nothing known, nothing ever known
(Not even surfaces of the imagined) –
For all is hidden in the depths
------------------------------
*From:* Donal McEvoy <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*To:* "lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* Thursday, 23 June 2016, 10:39
*Subject:* [lit-ideas] Elvis put down The Wasteland, said "Well, well,
well"
Feeling like Elvis - clearly my Ireland v Ireland final prophecy is coming
true (proof: they can't meet each other before the final).
D
L
