IX.vii. layers ( adding ) layers ( missing )

characters in the dialogue

GAIA, she - dyad earth.
ALPHA DUCK ( Ἀνὴρ Α ), a duck ( of duck - dyad ? ).
BETA DUCK ( Ἀνὴρ Β ), another duck ( of duck - dyad ? ).
KUKNEION, a ( she - dyad )( its ) swan.
TRAGOS, a goat.
ALPHA CRONE ( Γραῦς Α ), an old woman.
GIRL ( Νεᾶνις ), a girl.

//

GAIA:
youd hear me better with your { eyes closed }
maybe howl a little at the moon
spend some time outside the city.

ALPHA DUCK:
no( o he - lunar month - crescent moon - time of the month )
no( hims - )( no - country - districts )( no - common - folk )
( no - the commons )( no - taming - or - overpowering - mymind )way.

μὴ μηδαμῶς.

KUKNEION:
he doesnt want to get his period, we guess,
he doesnt like trees or bugs,
he doesnt want to live like common people
or at least, he doesnt want to feel common.
or to feel embarassed in front of the boss,

ALPHA DUCK:
for( we )fear( we are alarmed and anxious )
( we dread )not( o he - moon - crescent - time of the month )
and( indeed )beside( two - by - for )the( she )
lady - general( commander )( to - by - for )( the door
of the generals tent ),

(870) δέδοικα γὰρ μὴ καὶ παρὰ τῇ στρατηγίδι,

KUKNEION:
we are not terrified, o alpha duck
of a body - having - holding - its - she - cycle.

although these would be the fears
of nom - nom - men facing ego - death
and grasping at responsibility
for their actions,

ALPHA DUCK:
whenever( the - he - nom )( bro )( of she - bewilderment ? )
( of she - infatuation? )( she - blindness and delusion sent by
the gods ? )( rash actions ? )( mischief ? )( ill - fated - she )( - accused )
( of he - clansmen - acc )( o he - it - testing )( of hims - of hers - accused )
( we )would put( it )down( lay down )( as payment )
( offer as a prize )( dedicate )( deposit )

ὅταν κατατιθῶ, 

KUKNEION:
but its not the worst thing
to be called a crazy woman
by clansmen. doing wrong
would be far worse than that.

so take a breath and let it out. quack a little.
youre an animal, why be terrified of losing control ?
we say let it go, alpha duck . why not ?

ALPHA DUCK:
( you )may lay claim( procure )( pretend )( affect )( profess )
( what doesnt belong to you )( it would profess )
( it would make over )( add )( and attach to )( it would win over )
( it would take to itself what doesnt belong to it )( it would pretend )
of the( hers - hims - its - gen )( used - needed )things( goods )
( property )( temple - treasures )( heirlooms )( money )( property )
( substance )( matters )( affairs )( monstrous ? )( merchandise )

προσποιῇ τῶν χρημάτων.

KUKNEION:
you dont have to be afraid, alpha duck
we dont want to steal your quack.
how could we steal what lives in you ?
whereas these are shared things,

TRAGOS:
these( its - voc - nom - acc )( to - by - for )( this - she )
( we )is( are )( to - by - for )you( plural ),

ταῦτ᾽ ἔστιν ὑμῖν,

GAIA:
we keep the earth in layers of myself.
so its encouraged to keep records
of your { mind wandering }
and to share it with a friend,

BETA DUCK:
( it was flowing )( flow, you ! )( it was swimming )
( swim, you ! )( it was spinning )( spin, you ! )
( it was piling up in heaps )( pile up heaps, you ! )

νὴ

KUKNEION:
it helps to say a little mantra
that can warm you up. it helps
to wake up before dawn
then let it flow wherever.
it can also help to make it a prayer,

BETA DUCK:
by the( him - accused )Zeus( through )( the she - dyad )
( its - voc - nom - acc )( o she - nom )( heavenly ) ,

τὸν Δία

KUKNEION:
then may your work be blessed.
then may your work be daimonic ,

BETA DUCK:
it(s needful )( you need )( need, you )( it needs )
( its needing )( its binding )( bind, you )( it binds )
( you bind )( to - by - for Zeus )must( we )be

δεῖ

KUKNEION:
you may grow and evolve
in the ways you say
even the simplest - seeming - same - things
over repetitions, so repeat mindfully,

BETA DUCK:
at least( knees? )then of some( it )machine( mechanema )
( subtle contrivance )( mechanical device )( engine of war )

γοῦν μηχανήματός τινος,

KUKNEION:
animals are the subtle machine.
beware automation, beware losing
your chance to remember her again.
beware the machine of war,
beware its desire for more ,

BETA DUCK:
in some( he - nom )any way at all
the( she - dyad )( its - neuter - things )
even( indeed )( we - )( its )( he - accused )( - beings )
( it - dyad )( its )( to - by - for - it )merchandise( temple - treasures )
( properties )( moneys )( substances )( things )( matters )( affairs )
( we )will have - and - hold( bear - carry - bring ),

ὅπως τὰ μὲν ὄντα χρήμαθ᾽ ἕξω, 

KUKNEION:
but the temple - ship - we - being - dwelling - in ,
and she would be its only gold.
it wouldnt really work if you were grabby.

BETA DUCK:
but( to - by - for )these( its - hims )( by here )
of the( hers - hims - its - gen )kneading( and pressing
into a barley - cake )( to - by - for )( the )common( she )
( it )( would )( make common )( share )( communicate )
( you )( would )( undertake together )( make common cause )
( take counsel with )( consult )( communicate )
( we )will partake of( share in )( participate )
somehow( in any way at all )( we - )ego( - being ).

τοισδεδὶ
τῶν ματτομένων κοινῇ μεθέξω πως ἐγώ.

KUKNEION:
kneading sounds nice, yet its important
always to listen for the un - common - she,
and the she you havent yet heard,
and maybe the she nobodys heard,
and when in doubt, follow her lead.

BETA DUCK:
rightly( hims - straightly - accused )( youre setting straight )
( youre raising - up )( youre re - building )
( youre restoring to health and happiness )
( youre bringing it to a happy end )( success )
( flourishing )( to be right and true )( to exalt )( honor )
( to - by - for )( her - him )me at least
( it )comes to light( appears )( it rises and shines )
( like a fire )( like daybreak )( brightly ),

(875) ὀρθῶς ἔμοιγε φαίνεται: 

KUKNEION:
it seems by me that we are setting straight,
not me, yet by me, it does feel good
some days, some days its hard, and its
important not to let the positive feelings
or bright - light - shining numb your senses
to the most important things ,

BETA DUCK:
( it - voc - nom - acc )( him - accused )must walk( by land )( by sea )
to the same place( it )( we )is( are )( will dine )( will sup )
( its - him - accused )will( young )be( ships )making( temple )a( dwelling )meal
( and )( it - voc - nom - acc )( him - accused )must not delay
( not destiny )( not always intending to do )( not hesitate )( must do ! )

βαδιστέον
ὁμόσ᾽ ἐστὶ δειπνήσοντα κοὐ μελλητέον.

KUKNEION:
beta duck, was that Yodas line from Star Wars ?
encouragement helps when you feel afraid,
but we hesitate appending necessity
to others, beta duck, or assuming that others
are in the same boat as me. our vessel
would be made of many different kinds of boats,
or at least many different animals,

TRAGOS:
O( we would be )men( voc - nom )Athenian
( O )( we would be )( men )( of the Politeia ),

ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι,

GAIA:
it probably isnt a coincidence
that there and then { suddenly a draft }
the door of the generals tent opens
and out comes the ( she ) lady - general.
( the swan and the ducks commence
swimming around in circles )

ALPHA CRONE:
( which )( any - it )( voc - nom - acc )( why )wherefore
( somewhere )( anywhere )( somehow )haply
( at some time or other )( at any time )( in time past )
( in days of old )( formerly )( once upon a time )
( o - he - longing )( o - he - yearning )( o - he - regret )
( o - he - desire )( o - he - larkspur )( o - he - asphodel )
( o hes and she - nom )( to - by - for - him )( drunks )
( o - she - wine )( o - he - drinking - bout )( tavern - crawl )
( o - shes - nom )( to - by - for - her )( longing, desire for . . . )
( you )( would )( fly - hither )( fly - thither )( wings - borne )
( o - shes - nom )( flights )( to - by - for )( she - flight )
( o - shes - nom - nom )( sips )( to - by - for )( her - taste of wine )
( o - he )( o - shes - nom )( o its )( to - by - for - her )( drinks - ups )

τί ποθ᾽

KUKNEION:
her song so lush by such slight its,
her riverrun replenishes the lake,
and yet she still goes hungry,

ALPHA CRONE:
( o )( the )men( nom - nom )havent come( arent here )
( havent reached a point )( havent come back )( returned )
( to - by - for )( hims and its )( havent come )( arent here ) ?

τί ποθ᾽ ἅνδρες οὐχ ἥκουσιν;

KUKNEION:
dont worry ducks, shes hungry for men
but only nominative ones,
not ones like us,

TRAGOS:
( o dyad - she )( voc - nom - acc )( dyad - he )( voc - nom - acc )
( dyad - it )( voc - nom - acc )( its )( voc - nom - acc )
( her and him )( - accused )true( unconcealed )
( it wanders )( it roams )( outcast )( banished )( perplexed ),

τἀληθῆ,

GAIA:
for wanderers, outcasts, exiles, and the perplexed
she feels like { cool air caressing skin } in june
but she may feel like dead of winter
for men ( nom - nom ),

ALPHA CRONE:
but( o dyad - she )( o - she - nom )( period )( time of year )
( spring - summer - fall - winter )( prime of the year )( season )
( time of day )( interval )( lapse of time )( length of time )
( hours )( the fitting time )( the due season )( the bloom )
( o dyad - she )( o - she - nom )( part of a sacrificial victim )
( its looking )( its seeing )( its beholding )( its perceiving )due

KUKNEION:
how does she measure the season ?

ALPHA CRONE:
( if )( haply )theyre( being we )( its being we )
( were being we )( lo ! )( we are saying ),

KUKNEION:
what do shes ( nom ) do with men ( nom ) ?

ALPHA CRONE:
( o shes - nom )( nugget )( to - by - for )( her - nugget )( of gold ? )
( o shes - nom )( wrestling )( to - by - for )( her - wrestling )( battle ? )
( o shes - nom )( finest meal )( to - by - for )( her - supper )( finest dust ? )
( it would poise and sway and brandish )( it would shake lots )
( poise, you ! )( sway, you ! )( brandish, you ! )( be shaken shook ! )
( vibrate ! )( quiver ! )( quake ! )( dash along ! )long ago
( once upon a time )( of old )( of ancients )( of just now )

ὥρα δ᾽ ἦν πάλαι:

KUKNEION:
maybe thats how shes become smooth and powerful,
by offering up their noms as lots of its,

TRAGOS:
and( indeed )you( plural - accused )
( your she - accused )( of your gen - she )

καὶ ὑμᾶς

KUKNEION:
we begin with such mighty material,
we wouldnt want to waste any of it,

TRAGOS:
neither( it - voc - nom - acc )big( great )( large )
nor( it - voc - nom - acc )( him - accused )small
( little )( short )( unimportant )

οὔτε μέγα οὔτε μικρὸν 

KUKNEION:
whats a common mistake of men ?

TRAGOS:
( he - nom )keeping hidden( away - off )from
( keeping back )( keeping concealed )( hiding away )
( losing from sight )( disappearing )( cryptic - in - full ),

ἀποκρυψάμενος

KUKNEION:
and whats one difference between
a secret ( man - nom ) teaching
and we - being ?

TRAGOS:
( we - )ego( - being )( we )( would )say( and speak )
( gather )( choose )( count, tell )( recount, tell over )
( repeat )( maintain and mean ),

ἐγὼ λέγω 

KUKNEION:
yet in the most dyad - underhanded way ?
but this is the stubborness of a goat,
so it feels natural.

TRAGOS:
not even( he - nom )restricting itself( abstaining - from )
( avoiding )( shrinking from )( holding in undue awe )
( reducing its diet )( shrinking from )( avoiding )
( refraining from saying ).

οὐδ᾽ ὑποστειλάμενος.

GAIA:
but its not as easy for human men ( nom )
whose customs, habits, and written texts
would be set down { and then gone just as fast }.

ALPHA CRONE:
but( we - )ego( - being )
( o she - nom )having been plastered( poulticed )over
( moulded - )( made - )( formed - )( - downwards )( - against )
( fabricated - )( imagined - )( pretended - )( - in accord with )
( to - by - for )( it )white lead( crumb - morsel - muthos )
( delightful )( word - story ),

ἐγὼ δὲ καταπεπλασμένη ψιμυθίῳ

KUKNEION:
so she looks like an hors d oeuvre .
and she wants us ( its ) here to illuminate
her crown, and grace her body, 

ALPHA CRONE:
( we )have made a stand( set up )( stirred up )( established )
( placed in the balance )( weighed )
and( indeed )saffron - coloured( it - voc - nom - acc )
( it - dyad )( would )( crown it with yellow ivy )
( you - dyad )( would )( crown it with yellow ivy )
( crown it with yellow ivy, you - dyad - both ! )
( it - dyad )( would weave it and wrap it in wool )
( weave it and wrap it in wool, you - dyad - both ! )
( 0 - she - nom )having( dressed in )put around itself,

ἕστηκα καὶ κροκωτὸν ἠμφιεσμένη

KUKNEION:
so that as non - human animals
human animals may leave
their noms behind
letting them be

ALPHA CRONE:
lazy( she - he - nom )( not working the ground )( lying idle )
( yielding no return )( free from toils )( lying fallow )( fruitless )
( he - shining - glistening - nom )( like a goose )( or a sleek ox )
( or swift - footed hounds )( feet flickering light )( o Argos . . . )

(880) ἀργός,

KUKNEION:
shining through beautiful beasts.
in such condition
what would be her reason to begin ?

ALPHA CRONE:
( o - she - nom )warbling( like a nightingale )some( it )
towards( so as to face )( in relation to )of myself( she - accused )
( it - voc - nom - acc )( musical )( limb )( song )( strain )tune,

μινυρομένη τι πρὸς ἐμαυτὴν μέλος,

KUKNEION:
so that it comes naturally and easily,

ALPHA CRONE:
( o she - dyad )( o she - nom )playing( like a child )
( dancing )( singing )( amorously )( hunting )
( jesting )( making fun )( playing )( she - dyad )

παίζουσα.

KUKNEION:
and as she plays, what does she hunt for ?

ALPHA CRONE:
how( in what way )would( we )embrace( encompass )( surround )
( catch )( grasp )( get possession of )( cover all around )
of( hers - hims - its )selves some( its )( or him - her - accused )
( its )( or him - accused )being( we )near - by( beside )
( its )( or him - accused )( passing - we - by ) ?

πῶς ἂν περιλάβοιμ᾽ αὐτῶν τινὰ
παριόντα;

KUKNEION:
can she sing a song to draw the its
and hers - and hims - accused ?

ALPHA CRONE:
( o - shes - nom )Muses( to - by - for )( she - music - song )
hither come( and go, you - plural ! )( hither you go and come )
( o he - eager - nom )( o hes - eager - eager - nom - nom )
( to - by - for )( eager - headlong - vigorous - hasty - him )
( o shes - passable - nom - nom )( o he - passable - nom )
( o - passable - its - nom - acc )( to - by - for )( passable - she )
( o its )( come and go )( and go and come )( mushrooms )

( shroomy - shroomy - shroomy - shrooms )
( come )( and go )( and come )( and go )( and come )

upon( up to )my( its )( of you )( him - accused )( it )mouth
( my organ of - it - utterance )( my organ of - it - speech )
( my - it - river - mouth )( my - it - outlet )( my - it - entrance )
( my - kissing - jaws )( my - it - face )( to - it - my - face ),

Μοῦσαι δεῦρ᾽ ἴτ᾽ ἐπὶ τοὐμὸν στόμα,

KUKNEION:
what do we call that kind of song ?

ALPHA CRONE:
( o )( it )little( poor - limb )melody( song - tune )( voc - nom - acc )
( o shes - nom )finding( discovering )( devising )( inventing )
( getting )( gaining )( fetching )( earning )some( it )( ditty )
of the( shes - hes - its - gen )Ionian( shes - hes - its - gen ).

μελύδριον εὑροῦσαί τι τῶν Ἰωνικῶν.

KUKNEION:
that kind of music, and idleness,
and softness and drunkenness
in general ( in generosity ) its not really
the best for guardians, or for self -
defense, we heard somewhere, o goat ,

TRAGOS:
and( indeed )further( to - by - for - you ? )
( we )( have seen and thereby )know
( its - voc - nom - acc )( swelling - puffy - tumours )

nearby( at a short distance )( close at hand )( loosely speaking )
( close quarters )( impending )( coming and drawing near )
( closely connected )( approximately )( more or less )

that( it - nom - acc )
( to - by - for )these( him - it )selves
( we )become hateful( incur hatred )
( to - by - for )( these )( him - it )( selves ),

καίτοι οἶδα σχεδὸν ὅτι αὐτοῖς τούτοις ἀπεχθάνομαι,

GAIA:
we are unbothered by hatred from him - it selves
but you arent, hungering for men,
and its and hers and hims - accused
to crown us with wreathes of saffron.
so { you join me under the blanket }
and the alpha crone becomes the girl ,

GIRL:
now even( indeed )me( her - him - accused )
( she - dyad )( o she - nom )peeping - out( stooping
sideways )( casting side - glances )( so shy ! )( so subtle )
( bowing - down )( as beast of burden )( horns -
bent - forward )( oopsie ! )( head - down )( alongside )
( you would )come before( anticipate )( outrun )( towards - beside )

νῦν μέν με παρακύψασα προὔφθης

KUKNEION:
oh this seems to be her mode of seduction ,
but is it really still her in there ?

GIRL:
O( we would be )( she - dyad )( its )( o she - nom )rotten
( putrid )( diseased )( carious )( pickled )( stale )( rancid )
( withered )( filthy )( worn - out )( in rags )( old wine ) ( wink ! )

ὦ σαπρά.

KUKNEION:
thats impressive, we couldnt even tell !
o goat, how would you tell whats what
when its so easy to change appearances ?

TRAGOS:
the( he - nom )( it - voc - nom - acc )

and( indeed )( it - voc - nom - acc )sign( symbol )
( token )( proof )( symptom )( demonstrative )

that( it - nom - acc )
( she - dyad )( he - dyad )( it - dyad )( voc - nom - acc )
( its - voc - nom - acc )( him and her - accused )truth( unconcealed )
( it would wander )( roam )( outcast )( banished )( perplexed )

( we )( would )say( and speak )( gather )( choose )
( pick up )( count, tell )( recount )( tell over )
( repeat )( maintain and mean )

( lewd ? )( he - dyad )( it - dyad )( voc - nom - acc )
( of him - it - gen )( lewd ? )

ὃ καὶ τεκμήριον ὅτι ἀληθῆ λέγω

GAIA:
but we dont really wander
banished, nor are we perplexed
( and never lewd ) { and we wonder }
what would be a sure sign of we - being - we ?

GIRL:
but( you )were expecting( foreboding )( suspecting )
( thinking )( supposing )( believing )
( you were alone )( left alone )( living in solitude )
( forsaken )( to be a solitary instance )( to have a special force )
( of an )( it - gen )( egg )
( she - nom )( she - gen )( she - accused )desolate( lonely )
( solitary )( reft of )( void of )( empty of she - gen )
( she - undefended )( she - default - judgment - against )
( you will be left lonely )( you will be going alone )

(885) ᾤου δ᾽ ἐρήμας

KUKNEION:
only a mother can make an egg.
but you were expecting

GIRL:
not( she - gen )( we - )being near - by( to be present
so as to help )( so as to stand by )( being ready or at hand )
( she - gen )( being maimed - mutilated - incapacitated )
in this( hither and thither )( here and there )( place ),

οὐ παρούσης ἐνθάδε

KUKNEION:
of you, your generosity
without any expectation of return.

GIRL:
of me( him - her - gen )( my - him - it - gen )
( you were vomiting and throwing up )( with a feather ? )
( vomit and throw up )( a flood of words, you ! )
will - gather - in( to reap )( as fruit or crop )
( stripping an unwatched vineyard ),

ἐμοῦ τρυγήσειν 

KUKNEION:
of you, your appetite
for everything that she produced.

GIRL:
and( indeed )will( to )bring - upon - itself( closely - apply )
( draw to itself )( attach to itself )( bring over to its side )
( embrace )( and store up for many years in advance )
some( it - voc - nom - acc )( him - her - accused )

καὶ προσάξεσθαί τινα

KUKNEION:
of you, your hospitality
and stranger - friendship.
and among animals
piety sounds like this,

GIRL:
( they sing and crow and hoot and croak and twang
and whistle and ring )( they chant )( they sing
and praise and celebrate )( o shes - nom )
( o she - nom )( to - )by( - for )( she - he - and - it )
singing( and crowing and hooting and croaking
and twanging and whistling and ringing and chanting )

ᾁδουσ᾽:

KUKNEION:
and animals make music readily
as its their nature. of you,
how you reminded us of this,

TRAGOS:
and( indeed )that( it - nom - acc )

this( o she - nom )( we )is( are )
the( she - nom )( diabole )( o she - thrown - through )
( the slander )( accusation )charge
the( she - nom )( it was vomiting and throwing up )
( vomit it and throw - it - up, you ! )
( o she - nom )mine,

καὶ ὅτι αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ διαβολὴ ἡ ἐμὴ

GAIA:
but the goat threw - through a nom
something that could be seized and carried
and { how long until you notice } and seize
and carry it back inside with you ?

GIRL:
but( we - )ego( - being )
if( its we )( theyre we )( were we )( lo ! )( were saying )

( o )this( it - voc - nom - acc )

( you )( would )do( accomplish )( as some great thing )
( you would offer sacrifice )( perform mystical rites )
( you would look )( see )( perceive )( behold )( this it )
( we )( would )will sing( crow )( hoot )( croak )
( twang )( whistle )( ring )( chant ).

ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἢν τοῦτο δρᾷς ἀντᾴσομαι.

KUKNEION:
and singing moves the world,
the natural and the divine,
and the city too,

GIRL:
for if( you come and go )( you are we )( to - by - for Zeus )
( it was putting to flight )( giving chase )( hunting )
( put to flight, you ! )( give chase, you ! )( hunt, you ! )
( o shes - heavenly - nom - nom )( o its - heavenly - nom - acc )
( o he )( heavenly )( o she - heavenly - nom )
( to - by - for )( heavenly - her )( you will set the warp
in the loom )( you will begin the web )( on which account )

through( the him - gen )crowd( throng - mass - mob )
( populace - popular assemblies - multitude )( annoyance - trouble )
( youre moving it )( disturbing it )( rolling it )( troubling it )
( move - disturb - roll )( sweep - it - away )( trouble it, you ! )

this( it - voc - nom - acc )( we )is( are )
the( to - by - for )( hims and its )gazing - at( beholding )
( with a sense of wonder )( contemplating )( viewing )
( as onlookers - bystanders - spectators ),

κεἰ γὰρ δι᾽ ὄχλου τοῦτ᾽ ἐστὶ τοῖς θεωμένοις,

KUKNEION:
you can do it with a dialogue ,
you can do it with a lyric poem ,
you can do it with a funny play ,

GIRL:
( samely )equally( youre uniting )( the same hims - accused )
( o he - viper - dyad - nom - accused )( to - by - for )( viper - him )
( it )has - and - holds( bears - carries - brings )( you have too )
( it makes room for another )( it gives way )( it advances )
( it throws up earth to form a mound )( it showers darts )
( it lets fall )( it lets drop )( it pours out and lets it flow )
( and it snows )( and it sheds )( and it scatters )

( it - voc - nom - acc )( him - accused )delightful
( and pleasant )some( it - voc - nom - acc )

and( indeed )( it - voc - nom - acc )( him - accused )comedic.

ὅμως ἔχει τερπνόν τι καὶ κωμῳδικόν.

KUKNEION:
and thats the slander unconcealed,
true - she - thrown - through,
she - diabole,

TRAGOS:
and( indeed )the( she - dyad )( its )( voc - nom - acc )
( she - dyad )( its )( o she - nom )responsible
( culpable )( the accused )( the culprit )( the cause )
( she - dyad )( its )( responsibility - guilt - blame )
( accused - the fault - the cause - the motive - the case )
this( she - dyad - accused )( its - voc - nom - acc )
( it )( we )is( are ).

καὶ τὰ αἴτια (24β) ταῦτά ἐστιν.

GAIA:
but from this and its effects
{ a layer of fabric } or an animals skin
or a girlish game would not protect you,
so you appear as the lady - general again,

ALPHA CRONE:
( this )( it - dyad )( voc - nom - acc )
( to - )by( - for )this( it - him )

( you )converse( dia - legein )
( select - separate - examine )( pick - out )
( pick - open - ways )( practice dialectic )
( discussion )( discourse )( talk )
( lecture )( use a dialect or language )
( speak - thoroughly - through )

( and )be off( go away, you ! )( depart ! )( withdraw ! )( turn - out ! )
( succeed ! )( make room for another - off - away - and - back - again ! )
( it - voc - nom - acc )( o him )( will - going - off )( and succeeding . . . )
( it - voc - nom - acc )( o him )( will have gone off )( succeeded . . . )

(890) τούτῳ διαλέγου κἀποχώρησον:

KUKNEION:
and if we would be the evidence ,

TRAGOS:
and( indeed )if now
( it - dyad )( he - dyad )

( voc - nom - acc )( suffering )( permitting )
( leaving them alone to perish )( conceding )
( allowing )( letting alone )( letting be )( dismissed )

and if( bow wow )back again( hereafter )( in turn )( anew )
( you - plural )would( will )seek( - after )( inquire into )
( investigate )( examine )( require )( demand )( desire )
these( she - dyad - accused )( its - voc - nom - acc ),

καὶ ἐάντε νῦν ἐάντε αὖθις ζητήσητε ταῦτα,

GAIA:
and if we would be the judge ,
all of our costumes go { missing } .

//

from hymn to Apollo
Apologia
Odyssey XIV
Ekklesiazusai

layers

IX.vi. ( on ) taking notes ( on carrying song )

GAIA, she - dyad earth.
KUKNEION, a swan.
BETA DUCK( Ἀνὴρ Β ), a duck, of duck - dyad ( ? ).
ALPHA DUCK( Ἀνὴρ Α ), another duck, of duck - dyad ( ? ).
TRAGOS, a goat.

//

GAIA:
{ we used to imagine }
we would summon you.

BETA DUCK:
( we )( will )( beauty - )call( summon )
( we are beauty - calling and summoning )
( to us )( to our house )( invite )( invoke )
( summon before the court )( sue )
( calling upon )( calling by name )
herselves( accused ),
καλούμεθ᾽ αὐτάς.

KUKNEION:
as usual they ( ducks ) want to help,
but how did they come to be
so ( hyper - active ) nominative ?
do you know how, O goat ?

TRAGOS:
( they )have filled full of yous( your - plural )
( of your )( hims - hers - its )( genitive )
the( she - dyad )( its )ears( voc - nom - acc )

and( indeed )long ago
( o she - nuggets - nom )( to - by - for )( she - nugget )( of gold ? )
( o she - wrestlings )( to - by - for )( she - wrestling )( battle ? )
( o she - finest meals )( to - by - for )( she - finest meal )( fine dust ? )
( she would poise )( sway )( brandish )( toss )( shake lots )
( be shaken and shook, you ! )( vibrate ! )

and( indeed )violently( vehemently )( excessively )
( men - nom )throwing - through( throwing - across )
( setting at variance )( setting against )( bringing to discredit )
( calumniating )( accusing )( complaining )( misrepresenting )
( slandering )( laying blame ).

ἐμπεπλήκασιν ὑμῶν
τὰ ὦτα
καὶ πάλαι
καὶ σφοδρῶς διαβάλλοντες.

GAIA:
and { what wed want to teach you }
cant be thrown - through violently
or yelled in the imperative.
but sometimes laughter helps,

ALPHA DUCK:
but if( see ! )( we say )( its we )( theyre we )( we are )( <.< )
( they )( would )( will )laugh at( scornfully )( mock )
( to - by - for )( hims and its )( laughing -
downwards - against )( derisions ),
what( it - thing )( then ) ?

ἢν δὲ καταγελῶσι, τί;

KUKNEION:
we ( did some research ) looked in our pond
and swans arent very funny.
so where would the laughter come from ?

TRAGOS:
out of( forth from )these( shes, hes, its )

and( indeed )Meletos( man - nom )
( youthful )( of a she - ship )( an unknown - nom )
( chaste tree - accused )( vessel of the god and goddess ? )
( τετανότριχα )( he - she - accused )( of long - straight hair )
( strained )( aimed )( string )( not well - bearded )( yet beaky )
( and as accused )( it - dyad )( would be an object of care )
( you - dyad )( would be an object of care )
( Euthuphron 2β )( to - by - for )me

(it )would put me on himself( put me on his table )
( give fulfilment by me )( put me on him like a door )
( place me on him )( apply me like a remedy )
( lay me on him )( apply myself to him )
( employ himself by me )( shut doors
behind us by me )( put a covering or closing
by me )( attempt me )( attack himself
by me )( take advantage ! )( bring me
on himself )( cause by me his penalty )

and( indeed )Anutos( man - nom )
( of fathers wisdom - wealthy flourishing blooms )
( neither flashy )( nor puffed - up )( nor braying )
( yet carries a burden )( a grievous load )
( yet would be led along )( and sprinkled )
( well - ordered )( moderate )( well - equipped )
( well - reared )( well - thickened - congealed )( educated )
( as it seems to the multitude of Politeans )( Meno 90α - β )
( made participial )( adding energy )( anutontes )
( he - nom )( achieving )( accomplishing )( completing )

and( indeed )( o )Lukon( of - wolves )( hims )
( they were tearing like a wolf )( we were tearing like a wolf )
( its - voc - nom - acc )( o he - nom )( tearing like a wolf )
( to tear like a wolf ),

ἐκ τούτων καὶ Μέλητός μοι ἐπέθετο καὶ Ἄνυτος καὶ Λύκων,

GAIA:
we almost explained a wolf
{ then caught myself and felt shame }
as thats what he would do,

BETA DUCK:
upon( at )( over - against )( in dependence upon )
the( she )double - folding doors
( o man - nom )having made a stand,

(865) ἐπὶ ταῖς θύραις ἑστώς—

KUKNEION:
even indeed the wolf
shares this with me,
also shared by poetry,

TRAGOS:
even( indeed )Meletos( man - nom )
( care )( practice )( study )( beaky )

over( above )( on behalf of )( in defense of )( for the safety of )
the( shes - hes - its - gen )poets( makers )( doers )
( of made )( adopted )( invented )( shes and hes and its )
( let the it - dyad - imperative - make and do )
( let them - imperative - make and do )

( he - nom )being( loaded )weighed - down
( in pain or grief )( being loaded with cargo
on board )( vexed )( grieved ),

Μέλητος μὲν ὑπὲρ τῶν ποιητῶν ἀχθόμενος,

GAIA:
him - letting - it - dyad make and do
she - suffering will out. thats how
a { silly girl } would make and do

ALPHA DUCK:
some( it - voc - nom - acc )

( o shes - nom - accused )( she - strengths )( she - efficacies )
( she - sacrifices )( she - active forces of a verb )
( she - acts )( she - visions )

will( would )( you )do( accomplish )( some great thing ) ?
( will - would you offer sacrifice )( perform mystical rites ? )

( o he - weight of the mountain on the Typhon )
( o he - little - piece of mouse - trap - wood )
( o he - worm that eats both horn and wood )
speak( say, you )( it speaks )
( to - by - for )me,

τί δράσεις; εἰπέ μοι.

KUKNEION:
but wed do all of that with grace.

TRAGOS:
but Anutos( man - nom )( achieving )( accomplishing )( completing )
( over )( above )on behalf of( in defense of )( for the safety of )
the( shes - hes - its - gen )workers - for - the - people( hims )
( demiourgoi )( skilled workmen )( craftsmen )( creators )( makers )
( he - nom )( practicing a trade )( doing work )

and( indeed )of the( shes - hes - its - gen )political( people )
( gen - shes and hes and its )( citizens )( civil men
and women and men )( community people )( be -
fitting a statesman )( of shes and hes and them )
( having relation to public life )( ordinary ),

Ἄνυτος δὲ ὑπὲρ τῶν δημιουργῶν καὶ (24α) τῶν πολιτικῶν,

GAIA:
go learn from all of them their skills.
then use it for the good of the people.
{ thinking youd even want that }
its offering open appeals,

BETA DUCK:
of( shes and hes and its - gen )the( of its and hims )bringing( it )in
( before )( facing )( introducing )( contributing )( paying
the property - tax )( bringing - forward )( proposing )
( e.g. of political measures )

( let them be - imperative - bringing - forward )( facing )

( we will )would have( it )torn( from our arms )
( overpowered )( overmastered )( stollen )( grasped )
the( she - dyad )( its )grain( corn )( bread )
( food )( provisions )( fodder ).

τῶν ἐσφερόντων ἁρπάσομαι τὰ σιτία.

KUKNEION:
but we dont private property
so nobody hears what we say.
or if they do, they take and use
illusions for their private purposes.

TRAGOS:
but( o )Lukon( of - wolves )( hims )
( they were tearing like a wolf )( we were tearing like a wolf )
( its - voc - nom - acc )( o he - nom )( tearing like a wolf )
( to tear like a wolf )

over( above )( on behalf of )( in defense of )( for the safety of )
the( shes - hes - its - gen )public-( men )-speakers( rhetoricians )
( the ones in the ekklesia ),

Λύκων δὲ ὑπὲρ τῶν ῥητόρων:

GAIA:
how else would you manage the public
than by treating them like sheep ?
how else would you help people learn ?
we used to imagine you would never learn.
{ but there you are taking notes }
on our secret we - being behaviors.
even though we never told you to,
we only hinted that you might

ALPHA DUCK:
walk( go by land )( by sea )( go, you )( its going )
( to - by - for you )( now )therefore( accordingly )( well then )
( the )later( coming after )( behind )( posterior )( man - nom ),

βάδιζε τοίνυν ὕστερος:

KUKNEION:
we - swans, by nature, go both
across water and over land.
although on land we waddle,

TRAGOS:
so that( so as )( as being )( inasmuch as )
( as to )( express the actual or intended result
of the action in the principle clause )( and so )
( therefore )( in order that )( for ),

ὥστε,

GAIA:
its tedious to waddle around a pond.
but imaginations born { of the silliest things }
lovely and weird and funny too, random
and yet not altogether new,

ALPHA DUCK:
but you( nom )O( we would be )Sikon
( a squeamish - fastidious - sort of )( man - nom ? )
( a cucumber or gourd )( acting like a Sicilian ? )

and( indeed )Parmenon( man - nom )( standing by )
( staying beside )( remaining )( enduring )( lasting )
( standing ones ground )( standing fast )
( surviving )( remaining alive )

lift( take up for itself )( what is its own )
( carry off and win, you ! )( be puffed up, you ! )
( youre raising )( lifting )( stirring - up )
( taking upon itself )( undergoing )( removing )

the( her - accused )whole of( her )possessions
( properties )( acquisitions ),

σὺ δ᾽ ὦ Σίκων
καὶ Παρμένων αἴρεσθε τὴν παμπησίαν.

KUKNEION:
as swan carries earth, so earth carries swan.
we graze on pondweed at the muddy edges
of a lake, and sometimes bite a bug or snail.
swans havent changed in years. yet too
theres something marvelous in everything
as swans ( she - dyad )( its ) we do,

TRAGOS:
( it )which

( he-)first( ruling )( making a beginning of )
( taking the lead )( governing )( commanding )

( we-)i(-being )say( we say and speak )
( they say and speak )( we - they )( gather )
( choose )( count, tell )( recount, tell over )
( repeat )( maintain and mean )

( the he - song of mourning )( lament )( the elegy ),

ὅπερ ἀρχόμενος ἐγὼ ἔλεγον,

GAIA:
its part of me, yet were not part of it.
so that some things { we choose to share } sometimes,
like swan - song,

BETA DUCK:
( its )carrying( carry, you ! )now( we - )i( - being )

( to - by - for )you

( we )( would )bring together( gather )( collect )
( contribute )( bear along with )( bear jointly )
( be useful )( be profitable )( do some good )
( work with )( agree with )( assist )
( carry - together ),

φέρε νυν ἐγώ σοι ξυμφέρω.

KUKNEION:
we carrying the song together
would be beautiful,

TRAGOS:
( we would )wonder( marvel )( honor )( admire )( worship )
if( thereupon )( spreading all over )( throughout )
whether( you come )( and go into )( you are we )
such( man - nom )as( you - accused ),

θαυμάζοιμ᾽ ἂν εἰ οἷός 

KUKNEION:
we would wonder at that ( you ) too,

TRAGOS:
and would( we )be( we )( to suffer )( to permit )
( to leave alone )( to let be )( we - )ego( - being )of you
( you )( gen - plural )( of shes and hes and its ),

τ᾽ εἴην ἐγὼ ὑμῶν 

KUKNEION:
not my we at least,

TRAGOS:
this( she - accused )the( she - accused )slander( she - thrown - through )
( she - false accusation )( she - discredit )( she - prejudice against )
( she - ill - repute )( she - quarrel )( she - enmity )
( she - fear )( she - aversion ),

ταύτην τὴν διαβολὴν

KUKNEION:
were only ultra - violet in she - defense,

TRAGOS:
to take out( for oneself )( to choose for oneself )
( to carry off as booty )( to have accepted as a gift )
( to remove her from our mind )( from our hands )
( to set free )( to deliver )( to bring to an end ) ,

ἐξελέσθαι

KUKNEION:
the rearing of our young into adulthood,

TRAGOS:
in this way in( him - it )slight( him )time( dat )
so( in this way )much( great )( mighty )( she - accused )
( she - accused )having( coming - into - being )
being - born( of her ),

ἐν οὕτως ὀλίγῳ χρόνῳ οὕτω πολλὴν γεγονυῖαν.

GAIA:
and some verses we leave to you.

KUKNEION:
we sigh. ( . . . ) only my mother
would let me conversate with goats.

//

from hymn to Apollo
Apologia
Odyssey XIV
Ekklesiazusai

taking notes

,ϊ

, ,ϊ

, ,,ϊ

, , ,,ϊ

pencil drawing on brown paper of a baby caterpillar coming out of the egg and starting to walk along the vein of a leaf

, , , ,,

IX. v. ( a swan is ) unbothered ( by dyad - ducks )

characters of the dialogue

GAIA, she - dyad earth.
KUKNEION, a swan.
BETA DUCK( Ἀνὴρ Β ), a duck, of duck - dyad ( ? ).
ALPHA DUCK( Ἀνὴρ Α ), another duck, of duck - dyad ( ? ).
TRAGOS, a goat.

//

GAIA:
{ two iridescent ducks swim towards me }
as if to prove to me my own self.

KUKNEION:
( no wonder we cant mate,
wrong species ! )

BETA DUCK:
but still( o other it - things )( o other he )
( others, others, others )( otherwise )
( we )( not you! )will carry( it )( off - away -
and - back - again )in,

ἀλλ᾽ ἀποίσω.

KUKNEION:
maybe its wishing to help,
but helping whom, we, her, him, or what?

TRAGOS:
the( she - dyad )( its )
( down - from )( down - into )( against )
all( hes and its )the wisdom-loving( hes and its )

( we say and let it be )-( they love wisdom )

at hand( towards - upon - against - so-as-to-face-)(-hand )
( its )( common )( accessible )( obvious )( ordinary )( easy )
( and crutches )( for flattening wool )
these( its )( nom or accused )

( to - by - for )( hes and its )( speaking )
( they )( speak and )say,

τὰ κατὰ πάντων τῶν φιλοσοφούν   πρόχειρα ταῦτα λέγουσιν,

GAIA:
as they love wisdom, so they love me.
yet speaking and listening by its and hims,
as ducks { expecting breadcrumbs we dont have }
demand a flattened answer to a round
and round and round about activity,

ALPHA DUCK:
at what precise point of time ?
( at what hour ? )
( at what o-clock ? )

πηνίκα;

KUKNEION:
whenever as now,

TRAGOS:
that( whatever )

“the( she-dyad )( its )raised from off the ground
( its )( hanging )( unsupported )
( raised higher than )( above )

( on the surface )( prominent )( the roots
running along the ground )( superficial )( shallow )
( more rapid )( open )( near )( the surface )

( in mid-air )( high in air )( poised on high )( of air )( into mid-air )
( things in the heaven above )( astronomical phenomena )
( on the high-sea, of ships )

( unsettled, fermenting, undigested )
( inflated )( buoyed-up )( in suspense )( eager )
( haughty )( of a horse )( high-stepping )

( puffed-up )( inflated )( elevation of style )
( uncertain )( unsettled )( in suspense )( pending )
( unfinished business )( unsecured )

( thoughtless )( fickle )
( of debts, unsecured )( absent-
minded )”

ὅτι ‘τὰ μετέωρα

GAIA:
glimpsed parts of something unpossessed by them.
yet { theyre unbothered by my lack of offerings }
because theyre ducks, and tears roll off their backs.

BETA DUCK:
not my( he - accused )( or my its )
O( we would be a )bro( of hers )( of hims )
( O we would be she - accused )
in the way( in the feet )( of hers )( of hims )
( he - nom )( as if feet - fettering )
( in the path )( he )will( we )be,

οὐ τοὐμὸν ὦ τᾶν ἐμποδὼν ἔσται.

KUKNEION:
ducks only making ripples in my wake,
as she would hold feet in a balanced way,

TRAGOS:
“and( indeed )( the she - dyad )
its( which - they - neuter )
( by - )from( - under )( she - dyad )earth
( land )( country )( ground )( ges )”

καὶ τὰ ὑπὸ γῆς’

GAIA:
and indeed we would act like it { like were
unbothered for a short moment }
when he takes a break to set it down,

ALPHA DUCK: which( what )( it )

this( - o dyad - god )( she was binding )( bind, you )
( god - needed - bound - accused )( she was in - need )
( need, you )( the dyad - god )( indeed )must( be - )then ?

τί δή;

KUKNEION:
if you ask me, an animal would be
unbothered by peculiarities
of humans in their custom and belief
in using gods and goddesses ( accused ).

TRAGOS: and( indeed )
“( the )gods( and goddesses )( accused )
not to use customarily( to practice )
( to have in common use )( to have adopted
the customs )( to have it regular )( to be customary )
( to be the fashion )( as is the custom )
( of customs and usages )( to enact )( to own )
( to acknowledge )( to consider as )( to believe in )
( to esteem )( to hold in honor )”

καὶ ‘θεοὺς μὴ νομίζειν’

GAIA:
as found no substance on my surfaces,
no partiality by parts, their base
and case made stronger { by the lack of answers },

BETA DUCK:
( an )other( different )( kind of )( men - accused )
( will )carry off( exhale - away - bring back - return )
( hand in an accusation )( render an account )

( we )say( assert - affirm )( o she - gossip )( she - talk )
( o it - said - word )( nom and accused )
( o she - voices from heaven )( she - omen - nom )

( to - by - for )( she - utterance prompted by the gods )
( significant or prophetic saying )( message of a dream )
( report )( rumor )( common report )( good report )
( fame )( tradition )( legend )

yet( o clansman - nom )( o clansmen - nom - plural )
( to - by - for )( the clansman )( tribal )( citizen )( man )
( it was accustomed )( be accustomed, you ! )
( o he )( o she )( accustomed )( familiar )( tame )
later( men - accused )of me( be vomited, you )
( you are vomited )( of my him )( my it ),

ἑτέρους ἀποίσειν φήμ᾽ ἔθ᾽ ὑστέρους ἐμοῦ.

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
as Cygnus floats on glass indifference
to he - gossip, man - talk from millennia
of famously reported play - things,

we are unbothered by this ones vomit,

( o children, dont ever just do or trust
what this goat says ) ( its way too tricky for that )
( lets be protected by white wings instead )

TRAGOS: and( indeed )

“the( he - accused )( who )

( him or her - accused )( its nom and accused )weaker
( worse )( inferior to )( less than )( fewer )
( we would be less than )( weaker than )( inferior to )
( you would be defeated )( discomfited )( spirit - broken )
( you would be cast in a suit )( you would give way )( yield )
( you would be a slave to )( in love with )( overcome )

word( speech - argument - reckoning -
account )( him - accused )

( him or her - accused )( its nom and accused )stronger
( mightier )( superior )( better )( greater )
( we would be a vine diseased )( it has excrescences )
( be diseased, you ! )( have excrescences ! )

( to )make( to do )( to create )”

καὶ ‘τὸν ἥττω λόγον κρείττω ποιεῖν.’

GAIA:
we are unbothered by excrescences.

eschewing mens idolatries, to work
{ we wear the power suit and a red lip }.
our manicure cuts lawns like tigers claws.

unbothered by what men call mans decay,
unbothered by that mans hunger versus this,

ALPHA DUCK: but( you )will walk( go by land )( by sea )
( it will walk )( it will go by land )( it will sail )
( o he - nom )will( be )making a meal( dining )
all the same( samely )( you make same ) ?

(860) βαδιεῖ δὲ δειπνήσων ὅμως;

KUKNEION:
for all it - things would in time become her meal.
yet it would be important to maintain poise
as this dyad of ducks may metamorph
into the voices of pond Politeia,

TRAGOS:
for( the she - dyad )( unconcealed )
( and the )true( unconcealed )( its - they )

( we )suppose( expect, suspect, believe )
( forebode, presage )( think, mean, intend )
( we ween )

not( as they )would will( it )( or wish )( it )

( would )speak( to gather )( pick up )( count,
tell )( recount )( say )( command )( mean )
( to call )( the she-dyad )( by name ),

τὰ γὰρ ἀληθῆ οἴομαι οὐκ ἂν ἐθέλοιεν λέγειν,

GAIA:
and were unbothered by ducks wagging bills.
yet were glad to hear you calling me by name
{ and feel for once in my life totally in control }
as this duck feels for once hes at my mercy,
he also catches glimpses of my power,

BETA DUCK:
for some( what )( it )would( we )suffer ?
( have done to us ) ( be affected )
( be used or treated by ? )

for the( she - dyad )( nom and accused )possible
( for its - they )( voc - nom - acc )( they - possible )
( strong )( mighty )( able - bodied )( sound - in - limb )
( powerful )( influential )( practicable )( able to produce )

it( needs )( youre needed )( need, you )( you need )
( its needing )( its binding )( bind, you )( it binds )
( youre bound )must( we )be

( to - by - for )the( she )( dyad - )city
( it goes about )( it ranges over )
( go about her ! )( range over her, you ! )

to collect( to gather together )( to rally )
( to comprehend )( to take together )( to enclose )
( to lay hands on )( to seize )( to grasp )
( to receive at the same time )( to enjoy together )
( to conceive )( to take with )( beside each other )
( to take part with )( to assist )( to contribute )

the( hes - accused )well - understanding
( thought - thinking )( minded - minding )
( feeling by experience )( being - sensibly -
alive )( phronesis ),

τί γὰρ πάθω;
τὰ δυνατὰ γὰρ δεῖ τῇ πόλει ξυλλαμβάνειν
τοὺς εὖ φρονοῦντας.

KUKNEION:
yet roundly wed beware the flashy feathers
of ducks or others which may be subtle quacks.
we dont pretend to know the full - fledged score,
though prima ballerina. and though its pretty clear

that ducks have barely changed in all these years,
yet were unbothered by the goat behind
the goat, even indeed him having seen
. . . lotsa bodies, my circle stays smooth,

TRAGOS:
that( whatever )

( o hes and shes )( downwards - against - through )clear
( manifest )( plain )( visible )( hes and shes - nom noms )

( you would be downwards - against - revealed )
( it would downwards - against - reveal you )
( it would injure and violate )

( they )are becoming( happening )( being produced )
( they - nom )making( - poetry - )towards( - beside - )through

( adding and attaching to )( procuring for themselves )
( attaching to themselves to win )( or gain over )
( to take to oneself what doesnt belong )

( to pretend to )( lay claim to )( to profess )
( affecting )( alleging )( using as a pretense )
even( indeed )( to have seen )to know,

ὅτι κατάδηλοι γίγνονται προσποιούμενοι μὲν εἰδέναι,

GAIA:
we view them nakedly through what they make
for me { snack on free candy at the office }
and watch them struggle through their pretenses,
and even smiling despite ourselves,

ALPHA DUCK:
but if( see ! )( they )hinder( prevent )( it ),
what( it - thing ) ?

ἢν δὲ κωλύσωσι, τί;

KUKNEION:
but see, it tends to hinder its own thing,

TRAGOS:
but( men - nom )( having seen and )knowing
no( it )( nom and accused )thing,

εἰδότες δὲ οὐδέν.

GAIA:
it rivers down my hills into my vale
until we hold their tears in serenity
and stars may { gaze at the lake we call mine },

BETA DUCK:
samely( we )are( o man - nom )bending forward
( stooping )( head - down )( hanging the head
from shame )( bending down under a burden )
( bending and bowing forward )( bending over )
( you bend over )( you stoop )( you bow ),

ὁμόσ᾽ εἶμι κύψας.

KUKNEION:
my bending is the body of a swan,
my neck is supple, my head turns down to face the sky,
not from shame but because of my nature.
never has an animal been safer than me,
a swan provides its own security, especially from ducks,

TRAGOS:
( who )( she - nom )( which )( its - they )
just as if( inasmuch as )( seeing that )
certainly( in fact )( really )( so then )( therefore )

( o she - song - way )( nom )
( to - by - for )( she )( way - of - song )

( we )suppose( expect, suspect, believe )
( forebode, presage )( think, mean, intend )

( he - she - it )( would swoop and pounce upon )
( you would be swooped after )

( o hes and shes )( nom )( honor - lovers )
( it would )seek after honor( jealous )( ambitious )
( covetous of honor )( vying emulously with )
( for fame )( for glory )( for distinction )

being( we )( he - nom )

and( indeed )violent( hes and shes )( nom )
( vehement ( excessive )( impetuous )( active )
( zealous )( strong )( robust )( sphodroi )

( he - she - it )( would do violence )
( you would be done violence ) 

and( indeed )many( men - noms ),

ἅτε οὖν οἶμαι φιλότιμοι (23ε) ὄντες   καὶ σφοδροὶ καὶ πολλοί,

GAIA:
by violent duck attacks unbothered here
as were unbothered by the deaths of man.
( by death of she - dyads, unsure )
but we are least bothered of all to { feel
the strap of my bag digging into flesh },

ALPHA MAN:
but if( see ! )( they )whip( flog )( it ),
what( it - thing ) ?

ἢν δὲ μαστιγῶσι, τί;

KUKNEION:
its not nothing singing around a swan
in the palaestra,

TRAGOS:
and( indeed )( hims - accused )having - straining - together
( drawing to the uttermost )( urging on )( exerting )
( straining all their powers )( earnest, serious )
( directing )( under tension )( under anxiety )
( being bent upon )( contributing towards )

and( indeed )( men - nom )persuasively( plausibly )
speaking around( about )me,

καὶ συντεταμένως καὶ πιθανῶς λέγοντες περὶ ἐμοῦ,

GAIA:
the goat-swan may be my favorite ( mixed ) beast,
seeing as how its made me testify in court.
we didnt ask for that, it hasnt happened
before, and that may bias me today.

yet men directing all their powers to speak
around the she and it, and not round any he
at all, we { walk home smiling anyway }.

//

from hymn to Apollo
Apologia
Odyssey XIV
Ekklesiazusai

unbothered

( . . . )

( . . . )

( . . . )

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
( still circling ) o ! . . . mate. mate was my reached -
for verb, and not do you not fuck.
( apologies to children having ears )
wed ask, do you not mate? ( go fix it, duck )

( . . . )

ARACHNES:
( dear me. writing to let you know )( full spider )
( about the bursting forth of rainy season life.
let - loose swarms of laron flutter around
the lamps, as from surfaces ants collect
exhausted bodies, leaving splinters of tissue -
translucent wings; frogs wooing in the bathtub
and sweeping wings in drifts of confetti.
so hard to steal a moment for the craft.
the web - weaving missed a stitch or two way down, , ,,ϊ )
( get it ? it, not he, went back eating its own commas :)
( the stitches finally found, and thank the goddess,
wanting to secure the count, before making
some necessary me - pairs )( swan - realness )
( no screaming here )( but somewhat sleep - deprived )
( the pond this time of year invents its own music )
( a spider glad to locate its missed stitches,
for an hour thinking every line tastes off,
the whole would need to be resticked, but how ,
then found two stitches oppositely missed
had maybe cancelled each other out ? ehhh !
rambling here, and funny now to imagine
the flurries round my mind . . . )( more soon - xoxo )
( may delete this later )( and - or )( re - use the silk )

( . . . )

( dear me. still bleary, still busy with bugs,
still insecure about my weave, but still
mine matches now what you ve already seen.
is this more like what we re looking for ? )

iv. ( its a swans ) warm ( welcome ) ( pt. 2 ) ( the grammar )

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
( its the passion ) { we shiver }
( for what feels like eternity )

MEDEIS:
so then( - and - there )( shes - she - nom )producing - sound
( o speaking - loud - and - clear )( giving - utterance )( affirming )
( testifying )( calling-by-name )( commanding )( crying - to )

( to - for - by )( hes and its )( producing - sound )

( she )flogged - smote - whip - scourged earth( chthon )
( to - by - for )( her )thick - stout - massive hand;

(340) ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασ᾽ ἵμασε χθόνα χειρὶ παχείῃ:

( . . . )

meanwhile, a list of ancient greek grammatical cases :

NOM ( ὀνομαστική ) ( onomastike ) ( nominative ) ( subject
of a verb ) ( the actor or doer ) ( named after naming ) 

GEN ( γενική ) ( genike ) ( genitive ) ( belonging, posession,
close association ) ( origin, source, relationship ) ( the case
of generation )

DAT ( δοτική ) ( dotike ) ( dative ) ( indirect object or recipient
of a verb ) ( means and end ) ( the to - by - for ) ( the gift-
giving case )

ACC ( αἰτιατική ) ( aitiatike ) ( accusative ) ( direct object or
destination of a verb ) ( the patient or recipient ) ( the accused )
( of responsibility ? ) ( of effect or cause ? ) 

VOC ( κλητική ) ( vocative ) ( direct address ) ( whos or whats
spoken to ) ( O you - know - whoever )

( . . . )

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
( some time later ) ( coming - to
in my bed ) ( regaining speech )

( sleeping around for a cozy time )
( a spanking sent from the divine )

( a prompting waterfalls of thought -
full - shudders passing - all - through - out
so many mes ) ( cant - count - its )

( so much for me still left to get - through )
( so much of me still left to be gone - through )
( and a lot of words to translate ! )

( would it get pregnant from this ? )

( would my white - feathered wings
match my slight - red riding hood ? )

( would it include a recipe for lentil
soup ? ) ( or better, barley - cake ? )

( having made myself hungry again )

{ then roll over and find you there }
( its beta man ) ( not like my dream )
( how not to show disappointment )

hello, do you not fuck ?
( hello, do you not mate ? )

BETA MAN:
( not )( therefore )very well( yes )
( we )re going to go( to walk )( to march )( by sail )
yuppers( must be thenanythings )

for what( ? )theyve( we )established
( the man - nom )having-and-holding
( they were heaping up some dirt )
in( here, there, thither, hither )this,

since( thisses )( youre the dyad-word-song, this - o -
-dyad - binding )( toi )( must be )then

these( nanys )( to - by - for )the( she )city
( it haunts )( it goes about )( range it over, you )
( it )seems( you seem )( they seem )( these things )
( to - by - for )( a kind of )( man )( meteor ) ?

οὐκοῦν βαδιοῦμαι δῆτα. τί γὰρ ἕστηκ᾽ ἔχων
ἐνταῦθ᾽, ἐπειδὴ ταῦτα τῇ πόλει δοκεῖ;

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
( range over what ) ( theres no it there )
( no meteor ) ( or any it else )
( so turned off ) ( flummoxed ) ( confused )
( and turning on the lamp ) O Sokrates,

( may we use your expertise in the erotic )

whats with this him ? and whats with
( noticing another one ) ( seated - in
the corner ) that other him ?
what kind of dyad are they ?
why dont they get it on ?

SOKRATES:
( they )have-and-hold
( to - by - for )( hims and its )
( having-and-holding )

even( indeed )nothing( not even one it - thing )
to say( gather )( count )( tell )( to mean )
( nothing )( not even one it - thing )

but still( o other it - things )( o other he )
( o other shes )( to - by - for )( the other she )
( to - by - for )( hims and its )( not - perceiving )
( they are )ignorant( but still they dont know ),

ἔχουσι μὲν οὐδὲν εἰπεῖν ἀλλ᾽ ἀγνοοῦσιν,

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
how to read or write ( inhabiting ) the word.
maybe its due to inexperience,
like not knowing a word they just dont know,

as someone may not know { l ä m p i m ä n ä }
( having - holding in a way of warmth ? )

( spending a morning over coffee with
the essive case ) ( like energeia ? )

( in a way that turns it on )
( in a way that turns us on )
( in a way that gives us life )

or maybe they dont believe in poetry.
or maybe they dont believe in us.
and not perceiving the way its we,

ALPHA MAN:
and( indeed )whither will( it )( you )go
you( nom - single )( if )not putting down( offering as prize )
( putting down as payment )( as paid )( as performed )
the( she - accused )property( substance )( being )
( immutable reality )( essence )( true nature )( ousia ) ?

(855) καὶ ποῖ βαδιεῖ σὺ μὴ καταθεὶς τὴν οὐσίαν;

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
but still whither havent these been carried,
substance - less ?

OUTIS:
but still( o other it - things )( o other he )
( o other shes )( to - by - for )( the other she )
( otherwise )that( man - nom )wards( it )off
( keep it in, curb, restrain it, hold it in check, you! ),

ἀλλ᾽ ἀπὸ κεῖνος ἔρυκε,

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
he greets me like a meat market ( no wonder
that theres no waking up with alpha man )
so its easy to keep my hands off him.

but we cant sleep with beta man either
because ( to press my body against ) him
would be like pressing myself in -

BETA MAN:
to( upon )( into the presence of )
( at the door of )( against )dinner( a meal )( neuter ),

ἐπὶ δεῖπνον.

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
at least he admits it. but of course in all
of this my body - brain craves the back - and - forth.
lately its been organic free - range strange,

SOKRATES:
but in order that( they )not seem
( expect )( think )( suppose )( imagine )
( opine )( determine )( resolve )( pretend )
to be in aporia( at an impasse )( without-
resource )( in way - less - ness ),

ἵνα δὲ μὴ δοκῶσιν ἀπορεῖν,

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
we offer these which slightly demonstrate
a kind of therapy for aporia,

{ p e h m e ä n ä } ( as holding - soft ) ( smooth - )
( mellow - ) ( tender - ) ( gentle - ) ( - holding )
( is it like ) ( e n s p o u d e c h o r e i a ) ( ? )

so ( there - and - then ) theyd never need to look
up in the lexicon for its way through,

ALPHA MAN:
not yup( this-musties ),

at least if( lo ! )( we are, they are, we say )( <.< )
( to - by - for )those( women )

( man - nom )mind( reason - intellect - thought )
would( we - being )in( would send - into - those women ),

at least until( you )carry off( exhale )( - away -
and - back - again ),

οὐ δῆτ᾽, ἤν γ᾽ ἐκείναις νοῦς ἐνῇ,
πρίν γ᾽ ἂν ἀπενέγκῃς.

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
but ( there - and - then ) its phallogocentrism.
so { we sigh } . . .

MEDEIS:
but( there - and - then )life - carrying Earth
( Gaia )was put - in - motion,

κινήθη δ᾽ ἄρα Γαῖα φερέσβιος:

GAIA: ( . . . exhaling ) ( carrying - off - away, , , ʚϊɞ
and - back - again . . . )

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
. . . making way for Gaia.

GAIA:
me.

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
we ?

GAIA:
yes, me.

//

from hymn to Apollo
Apologia
Odyssey XIV
Ekklesiazusai

warm

IX.iii. ( its a swans ) warm ( welcome ) ( pt. 1 ) ( the sex )

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
and yet { we shiver } in the distant glitter,
the fortress of our heart shagged with ice.

( a knock at the door ) ( trick or treat ? )

this bleak house hollowed out of stone, the mist
my breath, my silken - white diaphanous
nightgown, toes darkly webbed, at least by half.

( how else to go both barefoot and en pointe ? )

be still, we pause before the show. and have
been cold for a long time. for the listener

( another knock )

who listens in the snow, nothing herself,
beholds nothing that is not there, in fair
proportion to the nothing that we are.

( a third knock at the door )

O one must have a mind ( - outfit ) of winter
to admit the heraldess of a new she-dyad,

( as KUKNEION swans over behind a red
velvet curtain, to peek out and listen )

KERUKAINA( SHE-MESSENGER ):
O( we would be )( every )all( whole )( men )citizens !

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
( speaking from behind the curtain )
O ( we would be ) whole ( these ) ( its ) citizens too,
O we would be { silver and copper } and gold
( of course ) in all the best ratios, O we
would be an animal of written words,

KERUKAINA( SHE-MESSENGER ):
for now in this way these( things )have-and-hold( viper-dyad )
( viper-dyad has-and-holds these things )( by viper-dyad )
( you hold yourself to these things )( and to the viper-dyad )
( it pours )( lets it flow )( sheds tears )( spreads waves )
( piles and heaps up )( issues forth )( it sheds ),

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
( speaking to myself ) ( yet quietly )
as a rush of something it lets go the snake,
its sibilants and plosives in my ear,
the tingle up my spine, o passing near, away, 

KERUKAINA( SHE-MESSENGER ):
( you plural — )make room( give way, retire )
( be oppressed by weight, overpowered, hard-pressed )
( hurry and be eager )immediately for the( she )general
( the she-door of the generals tent )( the she - flag - ship ),

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
( speaking to many myselfs ) ( yet quietly )
as we plural really are of many minds,
theres something in me nervous and afraid
but something else inside here spoken craves
a kind of weight, not just of feathers white,
and not just of this sensuous curtain,
and isnt this exactly what my dreams of,

KERUKAINA( SHE-MESSENGER ):
in order that by you( plural )the( she )fortune( chance )
( to - by - for )( men )( casting and )obtaining by lots
would show( point out, tell, declare, explain )
( you would - will muse upon, ponder, consider,
contrive, perceive, observe, guard, beware )
according( downwards - over - against )as each( he - it )man( dyad )
whithersoever( you - plural )would( will )make a meal;

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
and its important and official me.
my me at least would love to have a meal,
my other me would love to be a meal,
my other me to live well through the feast.

its always nice when we can find a balance.
but looking around at my place here
its a sort of empty and severe stone castle, 

but theres plenty of floor to go around,
doesnt it seem like floor enough to share ?

KERUKAINA( SHE-MESSENGER ):
as the( o she )tables( dining tables )( tables
dedicated to the gods )( money-changers
or counters )( banks )( she bankers )at least
they( we )are( o women )heaping - up( to - by - for )( her heaping up )
of( women, men, things )good( men, things )all
and( indeed )( women )preparing( alongside )( women ),

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
O appreciation - ship of all good things,
and women alongside women, that sounds safe,

dont we enjoy preparing with women, we ask myself ?
and my cat, rubbing against my ankles, replies
meow ? and oh, how sweet. it wants permission.

as long as we dont take my white wings off ?
or unlace these satin ribbons, cross by cross . . . 

KERUKAINA( SHE-MESSENGER ):
and( she )couches( to be laid )( lie down, you )
of goats-hair and( indeed )of carpets and rugs
( o women )piling up( pressing )( cramming full ),

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
with my neck as lithe and long and curving as an S,
sometimes my head gets knotted in itself.
but nobodys making assumptions here,
we cant say what it means by cramming full,
by pleasure or by pain, or can we ?

KERUKAINA( SHE-MESSENGER ):
( theyre )mixing-together( to - by - for )( hims
and its mixing )( the )( him )( wine )vessel,
the( o women )perfumers have stood in a row,
the( its )( she - dyad )( it - dyad )slices of fish
are being fanned( for raising the fire ),

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
with unpredictable results, but whats
in here is getting hot despite the chill,
my heartbeat flutters like a little fan.
we imagine, could it really lead to danger ?

KERUKAINA( SHE-MESSENGER ):
the( he )hares( sea slugs )( birds with rough - feathered
feet )( to - by - for the hare )are being impaled
( crucified )( fixed on a spit )( transfixed ),

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
theres only one way that sounds good to me,
we should admit. but now it seems too late
for prohibition, as were already feeling it,
its giving me a deep tissue massage,
my feet, that this would be its eucharist,

KERUKAINA( SHE-MESSENGER ):
the( its )round( offering )cakes are being baked
( softened )( ripened )( matured )( digested )
( nursed )( brooded over )( gorging themselves ),

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
until around the hearth its gotten rather wet,
its won, but wait, not yet, O feast of animals,
who would protect this place, once we let you in ?

KERUKAINA( SHE-MESSENGER ):
( the )( o he )crowns( wreaths )( surrounding circling walls )
are being plaited( twined )( twisted )( braided )( devised ),
( the )sweetmeats( dried fruit )are roasting( the sweetmeats ),
( the )( she )earthen pots( of her earthen pot )of pulses( lentils )
( dal )( etnous )( yet - nous )( still - thinking - thinking - thinking )
( theyre )simmering( stewing )the( shes )youngest( nom - nom ),

ὦ πάντες ἀστοί, νῦν γὰρ οὕτω ταῦτ᾽ ἔχει,
(835) χωρεῖτ᾽ ἐπείγεσθ᾽ εὐθὺ τῆς στρατηγίδος,
ὅπως ἂν ὑμῖν ἡ τύχη κληρουμένοις
φράσῃ καθ᾽ ἕκαστον ἄνδρ᾽ ὅποι δειπνήσετε:
ὡς αἱ τράπεζαί γ᾽ εἰσὶν ἐπινενησμέναι
ἀγαθῶν ἁπάντων καὶ παρεσκευασμέναι,
(840) κλῖναί τε σισυρῶν καὶ δαπίδων †νενασμέναι†,
κρατῆρα συγκιρνᾶσιν, αἱ μυροπώλιδες
ἑστᾶσ᾽ ἐφεξῆς, τὰ τεμάχη ῥιπίζεται,
λαγῷ᾽ ἀναπηγνύασι, πόπανα πέττεται,
στέφανοι πλέκονται, φρύγεται τραγήματα,
(845) χύτρας ἔτνους ἕψουσιν αἱ νεώταται.

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
with all of this yet fore - the - play ? o me
( my circumspecter self arrives at this )
do you think they really eat it, like( nom - nom ) ?
but thought reminds me its a natural process,

so as never to be bored, dead, or ungracious,
we would welcome-in this, its she-heraldess.
but here comes my hab(r)itual r(h)esistance,
cause its a seemly thing that thinkers do.

and we want more on their relationships,
between the hims and hers, the hims and its,
the its and these she-dyads, new, if ours
were to receive this company some wrote.

as { he lives by the river } blue, yet its
still hard to hold the three - foot canter still,
and { shes born of the bog } beautys un-will
by bodys vessel brewed in brackish muck,

KERUKAINA( SHE-MESSENGER ):
but Smoios( to - by - for )( you - know - whos )( mini - me )
in( to )herselves having - and - holding
( they throw and heap up earth )( they bury )
( the fem - accused )equipment( garment )of a horse,

the( it - things )( she - dyad )of the women
( it )purges - through( cleanses thoroughly )
( youre being purged )( the she - dyad )
( the )cups( bowls )( of the women )( by its tongues ? )

Σμοῖος δ᾽ ἐν αὐταῖς ἱππικὴν στολὴν ἔχων
τὰ τῶν γυναικῶν διακαθαίρει τρύβλια.

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
of course we want to let them in, swiftly,
and yet were occupied by dubious hints.
such as, wherefore equipment of the horse,
when its a swan behind my drawn curtain ?

such as { his hair is ash and silver } and though
handsome, by now seems hollow, brittle, old, eh ?
such as { her curls a coppery glow } seems warm
though every metals prone to flashing cold,

( meanwhile stuff lying everywhere, my notes
here, squiggly brackets and parentheses, there
the valley - cum - palace looks a mess ) but guess
their golden-locks to lasting happiness ?

and whats a pretty verb for how they wed ?

KERUKAINA( SHE-MESSENGER ):
but Geron( the old man )( prize )makes( chorei )room
( for another )( gives way )( goes and comes )
for( the )( she - accused )shawl - of - wool
( blanket )( wedding - mantle )( you make room )
( you give way )( you come and go )

and( indeed )( the he - dyad )ashen( dusty )feet
having - and - holding( he - dyad )( ashen - dusty - feet ),
( he - nom )laughing - aloud( in their midst )
along( in common )with( the )( he - it )other youth,

Γέρων δὲ χωρεῖ χλανίδα καὶ κονίποδε
ἔχων, καχάζων μεθ᾽ ἑτέρου νεανίου:

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
they make love sound like easy laughter then,
and letting in may make it really so,
but of appetites of men we grow aware.
and would they even stop if it said no ?

so draw this curtain round me everywhere,
my dance of swan, the wood walks into me,
my little-red, my horses - riding - hood,
its me on her, my her on it, the sex —

such as { his eyes are the colour of moss }
while it swaggers in like a rolling stone,
such as { hers like lake water blue } reflect
but may project only my pleasures back

at this, its they ( the her ) ( the him ) for real ?

KERUKAINA( SHE-MESSENGER ):
but( the )( she - nom )felt slipper( its let him in )
( he - nom )( stepping - lightly )( in )( upon )( a ship )
( is )placed( laid down )( set before )( in repose )

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
he looks at her, she looks at him,

KERUKAINA( SHE-MESSENGER ):
and( indeed )( the )( he - nom )threadbare cloak
( he + she )( nom )( practiced - old-hand - rogue )
( the he - nom )( rubbing )( spending )( grinding -
out )( of worn and beaten )( following )( paths )
( he - being )thrown( cast )( hurled )( tossed about )

towards( - upon - against )( so as to face )( in con-
sequence of )( in relation to )these( its - accused ),

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
so lets imagine for the sake of argument,
my hands have lost their treaty with the door,
my feet have lost their contact with the floor,
its face - to - face with its accused, what more,

KERUKAINA( SHE-MESSENGER ):
( you - plural )make room( make way! )( come
and go! )( it makes way )( it comes and goes )

as the( man - nom )the( she - accused )barley - cake
( he - nom )bearing( carrying )( conveying )( enduring )
( suffering )( fetching )( producing )( causing )( paying due )
( they had made )( it )has made a stand( thick cake ),

(850) ἐμβὰς δὲ κεῖται καὶ τρίβων ἐρριμμένος.
πρὸς ταῦτα χωρεῖθ᾽, ὡς ὁ τὴν μᾶζαν φέρων
ἕστηκεν:

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
O shes been mixed, fermented, baked, reborn,
to let him in stirs dread, and yet hers joins,
and loves a cake, spake oven of my loins,

as { he smells like a burning church } and how
we would unseat the flame from elder wood,
{ and she of flowers of marsh } as sweet the bloom
when in doom she lets linger softest air.

but still, my swan without assent. wings carried
by this, the bakers baker, half-way back to bed,
his payment stood, a tricky sleep, he slips
by me, its she - accused,

KERUKAINA( SHE-MESSENGER ):
but still the( she - accused )jaws
( you - plural )( are opening )open - through,

ἀλλὰ τὰς γνάθους διοίγνυτε.

KUKNEION( OF A SWAN ):
its true, so ope my jaws, open - me - through.
and now ( o my ) light disappears under the red
felt blankets of oblivions delight
to bed, to wed, the feast, her last mens might
as all the stage comes in — good night, good night.

//

from hymn to Apollo
Apologia
Odyssey XIV
Ekklesiazusai

silver and copper

warm

🌕

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