Horses
the Delphiad, book III
(NAUSIKAA and HOMER on the beach, at sunrise.)
NAUSIKAA: you call me cute in a way we cannot fight,
HOMER: had not Achilles himself risen-up(indeed)and said
the(muthos)story-word;
καί νύ κε δὴ προτέρω ἔτ᾽ ἔρις γένετ᾽ ἀμφοτέροισιν,
εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αὐτὸς ἀνίστατο καὶ φάτο μῦθον:
N: so we call surrender;
(Rise, Achilles.)
ACHILLES: now no longer exchange-in-turn, (you-two)
(them-two), o Ajax and o Idomeneos, mean(cowardly)
(cruel)(shameful)(abusive)(harmful)word-
song(evil)uglies,
(neither)when(following the dyad-word-
song), nor has it(been)seemly,
μηκέτι νῦν χαλεποῖσιν ἀμείβεσθον ἐπέεσσιν
Αἶαν Ἰδομενεῦ τε κακοῖς,
ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ ἔοικε.
N: ever;
ACHILLES: but(indeed)by the other(they-dyad,
you-dyad)would be resentful(angry-wroth),
at whoever would do this kind of thing.
καὶ δ᾽ ἄλλῳ νεμεσᾶτον ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι.
N: surrounded by cool August breeze,
he still knows anger;
ACHILLES: but still, you(all)seated in the agon(contest-
gathering-struggle-battle), look upon the horses;
ἀλλ᾽ ὑμεῖς ἐν ἀγῶνι καθήμενοι εἰσοράασθε
ἵππους:
N: safe in a warm nest of pillows and sheets,
we look upon the horses;
ACHILLES: but they(by whom)quickly(perhaps)themselves hurrying
(hastening, eagerly-with-speed, blowing-blustering, propelling,
assailing-attacking)around victory, hither(thither)will(go)come;
οἳ δὲ τάχ᾽ αὐτοὶ ἐπειγόμενοι περὶ νίκης
ἐνθάδ᾽ ἐλεύσονται:
N: we wait;
(enter, Autos.)
ACHILLES: but then you will recognize each
of the Argives horses, by whom(they are)second
and by whom(being)presently-in-front.
τότε δὲ γνώσεσθε ἕκαστος
ἵππους Ἀργείων, οἳ δεύτεροι οἵ τε πάροιθεν.
N: our eyes are yours.
AUTOS: but you stood on the(forgotten-hidden-spoils-plundering-
pirates)Lelantine plain; it(this-she)didnt(o satiety, o loathing,
o weariness)delight(delight, you)(in)your thumos(hrrr),
to(make)build a temple-dwelling and sacred-wooded(with tree-
like markings)groves.
στῆς δ᾽ ἐπὶ Ληλάντῳ πεδίῳ: τό τοι οὐχ ἅδε θυμῷ
τεύξασθαι νηόν τε καὶ ἄλσεα δενδρήεντα.
H: as he said; but Tudeides(pursuing)went(and came)very(pit-
under-handed-dyad)close-by(seeking-chasing-pressing-
driving-urging-prosecuting)and drawing-near;
ὣς φάτο, Τυδεΐδης δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἦλθε διώκων,
N: he lives far from where prosecutors are,
A: but thence(whence)striding across the Euripos, o Apollo throws-
from-afar, you stepped up to the sacred mountains,
greenish-yellow(bilious-looking)(fresh-blooming);
ἔνθεν δ᾽ Εὔριπον διαβάς, ἑκατηβόλ᾽ Ἄπολλον,
βῆς ἄν᾽ ὄρος ζάθεον, χλωρόν:
N: and prefers flowers;
H: but by whip-scourge-lash he was always driving(drive,
you)arm-strokes-through from the shoulder;
μάστι δ᾽ αἰὲν ἔλαυνε κατωμαδόν:
N: our lord has shoulders, we dont whip;
A: but swiftly(perhaps, you)came from him(self)
to(she)Mukalessos(mooing-bellowing-nose-turning-mousy)
and(indeed)going(coming)to(he)Teumessos(happening-accomplishing-
vessel of a canny-fortune-device-workshop)(which cares)with-
grass-fit-to-make-a-bed.
τάχα δ᾽ ἷξες ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ
ἐς Μυκαλησσὸν ἰὼν καὶ Τευμησσὸν λεχεποίην.
N: swiftly by chariot, come for a ride,
H: but(the dyad)horses(o horses)by him(by him)
were lifting-lofty(raising-up)swiftly(quickly-nimbly)
passing-through(accomplishing)
(their)course.
οἳ δέ οἱ ἵπποι
ὑψόσ᾽ ἀειρέσθην ῥίμφα πρήσσοντε κέλευθον.
N: the loftier-the-lift, the less we try;
A: but you were arriving in the seat of Thebes(treasure-chest-store-
house-container, put-in-place to step-n-go)having-swooped-
down(covered and clothed)by hule(forest-wood-
land, firewood-fuel, brushwood-twigs,
stuff-material-matter, sediment-
mud, ooze, phlegm-
catarrh);
Θήβης δ᾽ εἰσαφίκανες ἕδος καταειμένον ὕλῃ:
N: digging in the earth of our own heart;
H: but the plume of dust was always hurling(throwing,
flying, striking)the charioteer,
αἰεὶ δ᾽ ἡνίοχον κονίης ῥαθάμιγγες ἔβαλλον,
N: so we cant always see just where we are;
A: for not yet(was)anyone(of)mortal-man dwelling in sacred Thebes,
nor then-and-there, yet-then-at-least, were there(k)not-twisting-paths,
nor drive-command-paths, throughout(the)grain-
bearing plain(of)Thebes,
οὐ γάρ πώ τις ἔναιε βροτῶν ἱερῇ ἐνὶ Θήβῃ,
οὐδ᾽ ἄρα πω τότε γ᾽ ἦσαν ἀταρπιτοὶ οὐδὲ κέλευθοι
Θήβης ἂμ πεδίον πυρηφόρον,
N: so we relied on our horses;
they too enjoy grain.
H: but the chariot having-been(dyad)covered(closely-surrounded,
shielded)by gold and tin, by swift-footed horses was
(as we were approaching)running-close-after;
N: we had to trust we would be safe;
ἅρματα δὲ χρυσῷ πεπυκασμένα κασσιτέρῳ τε
ἵπποις ὠκυπόδεσσιν ἐπέτρεχον:
A: but still, the hule(forest-woodland-cut-wood-
down-firewood-fuel-brushwood-twigs-
stuff-matter–material-sediment-
mud-slime-phlegm-catarrh)
was having(and)held —
aouuuuuuuu!
ἀλλ᾽ ἔχεν ὕλη.
N: we were the howling;
H: nor were many tracks coming-through-after from the iron-rim
around the wheel, in the fine(thin-delicate-subtle-small-
impotent-slight-slender)cloud of dust
(he would cover)(youre covered
with clouds of dust);
οὐδέ τι πολλὴ
γίγνετ᾽ ἐπισσώτρων ἁρματροχιὴ κατόπισθεν
ἐν λεπτῇ κονίῃ:
N: were twinkling(flickering);
A: but(o earlier-dyad)whence(thence)(it came)
(it went)dyad-earlier-was going,
o Apollo throws-from-afar,
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω ἔκιες, ἑκατηβόλ᾽ Ἄπολλον,
N: there was a beacon,
guiding us through the night;
H: but(both)seeking-eagerly(urging-pressing-on, hastening,
exerting, anxious, harassed)they were flying.
τὼ δὲ σπεύδοντε πετέσθην.
N: they were just being girls;
A: but to Onchestos(swollen-pompous-bellowing-pear-
tree-place, projecting-hook-pour, set-standing-
straight)you went, to Poseidons sacred grove;
N: we have some warm memories;
A: where(a)newly-tamed(filly)foal recovers(draws breath)
(you-drawing-breath)being-roundly-over-loaded
(vexed-grieved-annoyed)dragging
(the)beautiful chariot;
Ὀγχηστὸν δ᾽ ἷξες, Ποσιδήιον ἀγλαὸν ἄλσος:
ἔνθα νεοδμὴς πῶλος ἀναπνέει ἀχθόμενός περ
( ἕλκων ἅρματα καλά ):
N: we have some hard ones too;
H: but(he)made a stand(set-placed)(stayed-checked)(established-
instituted-fixed)(weighed-)into the mid(dle-intermediate, imp-
partial, middling, moderate, mediocre, mean)into the agon
(gathering-assembly-contest-struggle-place),
στῆ δὲ μέσῳ ἐν ἀγῶνι,
πολὺς δ᾽ ἀνεκήκιεν ἱδρὼς
ἵππων ἔκ τε λόφων καὶ ἀπὸ στέρνοιο χαμᾶζε.
N: o(he)repudiates established-institution;
A: but onto the ground(the)roundly-good driver
from(the)seat-board(o springing)leaps —
goes(comes-to)(the)road;
χαμαὶ δ᾽ ἐλατὴρ ἀγαθός περ
( ἐκ δίφροιο θορὼν ) ὁδὸν ἔρχεται:
N: hes made of earth but swift of feet;
H: but much sweat was spouting(and gushing forth)
out of(the)horses necks and(indeed)
from(his)chest onto the ground.
N: our names are rivers;
A: but it(by this)meanwhile indeed
empty(-handed-fruitless-void-)carriage(shelter)rattles
(knocking-strikes-claps)(by rattling-applause)along
(is)letting-go(leaving-neglecting)(what-belongs-
to)a lord.
οἳ δὲ τέως μὲν
κείν᾽ ὄχεα κροτέουσι ἀνακτορίην ἀφιέντες.
N: we dance(an)empty-handed-fruitless-void,
H: but seeing(him), swift(to ward-off, defend, assist, avail, hold-
out)footed-god-like Achilles was feeling pity(for him),
τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ᾤκτειρε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
N: but we bring and carry some-great-soul;
A: but if the dyad-chariot break(shiver)s in the sacred-wooded(with
tree-like markings)gro(o)ve, (they)attend(caring for)(letting their hair
grow long)to the horses,
εἰ δέ κεν ἅρματ᾽ ἀγῇσιν ἐν ἄλσεϊ δενδρήεντι,
ἵππους μὲν κομέουσι,
N: and we drag-along a pretty-great-friend;
H: but making a stand, then and there, into the Argives, winged-
word-songs(he)was speaking(speak, you)-agora-(into
the assembly, the marketplace);
στὰς δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐν Ἀργείοις ἔπεα πτερόεντ᾽ ἀγόρευε:
N: there is a voice, it tells me no,
guiding me through the night;
A: but leaning(sloping-lying-down)(on something)
(they)allow(by letting-go)the(chariot);
τὰ δὲ κλίναντες ἐῶσιν:
N: there are dreams,
there are pillars,
there is a beacon;
ACHILLES: the last(left-behind)man(and)the best(bravest,
most excellent, finest)drives(youre driven)(set in motion)
(struck)(beat-out)(forged)with one
(un-cloven)hoof;
‘λοῖσθος ἀνὴρ ὤριστος ἐλαύνει μώνυχας ἵππους:
N: may your words remain a constant echo
A: for so(the)earliest(hallowed-pious-pure-divine-natural)law
(begetter-ancestor-author-)(himself)became;
ὣς γὰρ τὰ πρώτισθ᾽ ὁσίη γένεθ᾽:
N: get a good nights rest,
in my mind even half asleep;
H: but(him)self(autos)from the all-shining seat-board
leapt(leap, you)onto the ground
(all-shining),
αὐτὸς δ᾽ ἐκ δίφροιο χαμαὶ θόρε παμφανόωντος,
N: we are made of earth, swift-footed;
A: but(to)(for)by the lord
(they)(boast-exult-
triumphant)pray,
οἳ δὲ ἄνακτι
εὔχονται,
N: o we ever arent him;
H: but(he)leaned there-and-then the whip-scourge-lash
against the yoke; nor did(he)idly(waste time doing it),
sturdy(strong)Sthenelos(strength-might-force-vigor);
κλῖνε δ᾽ ἄρα μάστιγα ποτὶ ζυγόν: οὐδὲ μάτησεν
ἴφθιμος Σθένελος,
N: neither does he whip, nor does he run your race;
A: but then destiny(fate)guards(you-on-your-
own-guard)the seat-board of the god.
δίφρον δὲ θεοῦ τότε μοῖρα φυλάσσει.
N: all(being)guarded(we)by(the)guardian(of)guardians(being)all;
H: but still-self-speedily(he)took hold of(grasped-
seized)the(contest)prize;
ἀλλ᾽ ἐσσυμένως λάβ᾽ ἄεθλον,
N: well he had come in first place;
A: but whence(thence)dyad-previously(you)were going,
o Apollo throws-from-afar;
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω ἔκιες, ἑκατηβόλ᾽ Ἄπολλον:
N: previously burning in Achilles funeral pyre;
H: but(he)gave for(his)high-spirited(thumos)companions
the woman to lead,
N: our name is Nausikaa; we are the first
to whom he(stranger)owes his life.
H: and(indeed)to carry(the dyad-)tripod
with(o ears!)(oars?)handles;
δῶκε δ᾽ ἄγειν ἑτάροισιν ὑπερθύμοισι γυναῖκα
καὶ τρίποδ᾽ ὠτώεντα φέρειν:
N: a giants never been in safer hands;
A: but then and thereupon, you reach the beautifully(flow!)ing
Kephissos(dull-sluggish-torpid-droning-buzzing-garden-
guardian-growing-natural-rest),
Κηφισσὸν δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔπειτα κιχήσαο καλλιρέεθρον,
N: where we step with bare feet,
when were not taking a seaside nap;
H: but he was(unbinding, unfastening, letting-loose
and releasing)(the dyad-spider-webs)
(and)setting free the horses;
ὃ δ᾽ ἔλυεν ὑφ᾽ ἵππους.
N: which is how they learned to fly;
A: and who-he(would pour)pours from(gracious-desiring-
clarity, musical-guardian-yearning, libations-of-oblivion)
Lilaietha, of the beautifully-flowing water;
ὅς τε Λιλαίηθεν προχέει καλλίρροον ὕδωρ:
N: nobody(he)at all.
(All set.)
from hymn to Apollo
Il.23.488-508, 532-538
cf Od. 8.462
the Delphiad, book II
(KOURAI and HOMER on the beach at sunrise, slack-tide.)
KOURAI: push pause
HOMER: (loosed)
λῦτο
K: and let the world rest
H: but the contest(assembly - games - arena - struggle)disper s e d
(unyoked - undid - unfastened - unbound - dissolved - set f r e e
released - came undone - relaxed - unfol d e d )
(λῦτο)δ᾽ ἀγών,
K: while we arrange our thoughts
H: but each people scattered to go
(and come)upon the swift ships.
λαοὶ δὲ θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ἕκαστοι
ἐσκίδναντ᾽ ἰέναι.
K: into neat piles
H: those(by you)(indeed)were thinking of dinner;
τοὶ μὲν δόρποιο μέδοντο
K: each carefully labeled
H: and of sweet sleep(of lichen)(he was putting
to sleep)(sleep, you)
to be satisfied;
ὕπνου τε γλυκεροῦ ταρπήμεναι:
K: lock ugly ones in a box
H: nevertheless, Achilles(remembering)
was weeping(weep, you)(remembering his)beloved companion, re-
membering, and not even sleep, all-tamer, was taking hold,
αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
κλαῖε φίλου ἑτάρου μεμνημένος, οὐδέ μιν ὕπνος
ᾕρει πανδαμάτωρ,
K: give the key to you
H: but he was turning(youre turning)here and there, yearning
(missing)(regretting)(longing)for Patroklos, his manhood
and his goodly menos(courage-passion-spirit-fury-strength) —
ἀλλ᾽ ἐστρέφετ᾽ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα
Πατρόκλου ποθέων ἀνδροτῆτά τε καὶ μένος ἠΰ,
and however many(he had)wound-off(achieved)together-with-him
and(the pains)suffered(endured), the pains(piercing-
through)of men(growing into manhood)the grievous wars
and(piercing-through)the(pregnant)waves(floods)(swellings)piercing-
through —
ἠδ᾽ ὁπόσα τολύπευσε σὺν αὐτῷ καὶ πάθεν ἄλγεα
ἀνδρῶν τε πτολέμους ἀλεγεινά τε κύματα πείρων:
remembering those, he(weeping)let fall the blooming(flowing-
full-fresh, stout-thick-lusty)(we-weeping)tear,
at one time, on(his)(ribs)side lying down, at another again
lying(backwards)(supine)on his back, at another,
lying(prone)on his front;
τῶν μιμνησκόμενος θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυον εἶβεν,
(10) ἄλλοτ᾽ ἐπὶ πλευρὰς κατακείμενος, ἄλλοτε δ᾽ αὖτε
ὕπτιος, ἄλλοτε δὲ πρηνής:
K: knowing
H: but at times standing straight
he was turning(whirling)restless(distraught)(at a loss)(wandering
along)the beach, beside the salty sea; nor did dawn
appearing escape his awareness,
τοτὲ δ᾽ ὀρθὸς ἀναστὰς
δινεύεσκ᾽ ἀλύων παρὰ θῖν᾽ ἁλός: οὐδέ μιν ἠὼς
φαινομένη λήθεσκεν
K: you won’t give it back
H: from beyond the salt-
sea and this beach.
ὑπεὶρ ἅλα τ᾽ ἠϊόνας τε.
(enter AUTOS)
AUTOS: but in again(bow wow)to this, Ares and well-
sighted Argeiphontes(giant-slayer-Hermes)(they)play
(she-playing by he- or they-playing);
ἐν δ᾽ αὖ τῇσιν Ἄρης καὶ ἐύσκοπος Ἀργειφόντης
παίζουσ᾽:
H: but(he)at least then(youre following the dyad-word-song)
(he)would yoke the swift horses under(dyad-spider-
webs)the chariot;
ἀλλ᾽ ὅ γ᾽ ἐπεὶ ζεύξειεν ὑφ᾽ ἅρμασιν ὠκέας ἵππους,
A: nevertheless(he)Phoibos(pure, bright, radiant)Apollo
plays the kithara,
αὐτὰρ ὁ Φοῖβος Α᾽πόλλων ἐγκιθαρίζει
H: but to drag(him)he would tie(bind)Hektor behind the seat,
Ἕκτορα δ᾽ ἕλκεσθαι δησάσκετο δίφρου ὄπισθεν,
A: (as you are played)dyad-beautiful and(indeed)striding-high;
(ἐγκιθαρίζει) καλὰ καὶ ὕψι βιβάς:
H. but three-times dragging(you)around the sign(the burial-
mound)of the dead son of Menoitios(Patroklos),
and again(on the fourth)pausing to lie down,
τρὶς δ᾽ ἐρύσας περὶ σῆμα Μενοιτιάδαο θανόντος
αὖτις ἐνὶ κλισίῃ παυέσκετο,
A: but radiance shines(you are shone)around him,
αἴγλη δέ μιν ἀμφιφαείνει
H. but leaving him in ashes(and then)lying stretched-out
(prone)on his face;
τὸν δέ τ᾽ ἔασκεν
ἐν κόνι ἐκτανύσας προπρηνέα:
A: and the twinkling(and flickering)of(his)feet;
μαρμαρυγαί τε ποδῶν
H: but of him, Apollo was holding-off(hold-off, you)the whole
outrage to the flesh(body)(skin), feeling
pity for the person,
(indeed)though(he)had died;
τοῖο δ᾽ Ἀπόλλων
πᾶσαν ἀεικείην ἄπεχε χροῒ φῶτ᾽ ἐλεαίρων
(20) καὶ τεθνηότα περ:
A: (indeed)of(his)well-spun tunic;
καὶ ἐυκλώστοιο χιτῶνος.
H: but all-around by-aegis(he)covered(cover, you)by(-all-)gold,
so that(the)dragging-about wouldnt tear-off(the)skin.
περὶ δ᾽ αἰγίδι πάντα κάλυπτε
χρυσείῃ, ἵνα μή μιν ἀποδρύφοι ἑλκυστάζων.
K: (o radiant lord — )my body is refusing
to(cross-eyes)cooperate
(powers-out)again
it(you)(you)must know
(dark moon)of the storm in my heart.
H: nevertheless Odysseus
was observing the twinkling(flickering)of feet,
αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
μαρμαρυγὰς θηεῖτο ποδῶν,
A: but they rejoice-at(great thumos)looking-into(the)great thumos;
οἳ δ᾽ ἐπιτέρπονται θυμὸν μέγαν εἰσορόωντες
H: but(he)wondered(wonder, you)(at it)
in his thumos(flickering-
twinkling-heart).
θαύμαζε δὲ θυμῷ.
A: and Leto(seize-behold)of goldy-locks and(indeed)deliberate Zeus
(wondered at their)beloved child, playing amongst the immortal
gods(they shine - by shining)(they run - by runing)
(by gazing)and goddesses.
Λητώ τε χρυσοπλόκαμος καὶ μητίετα Ζεὺς
υἷα φίλον παίζοντα μετ᾽ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι.
H: nevertheless he, playing the lyre, was throwing-and-striking-up
beautifully, to sing!
αὐτὰρ ὁ φορμίζων ἀνεβάλλετο καλὸν ἀείδειν
A: and how, then-and-there, would(will)we sing(of)you(re being
sung), being(s)wholly well(and-many-well)sung?
πῶς τ᾽ ἄρ σ᾽ ὑμνήσω πάντως εὔυμνον ἐόντα;
H: about(around)Ares lovemaking and fragrant-crowned Aphrodite,
as they(dyad)first mingled, in(the)house(of)Hephaistos,
secretly,
ἀμφ᾽ Ἄρεος φιλότητος εὐστεφάνου τ᾽ Ἀφροδίτης,
ὡς τὰ πρῶτα μίγησαν ἐν Ἡφαίστοιο δόμοισι
λάθρῃ,
A: or(ah!)in going-courting we(would)sing of you,
and(indeed)in-lovemaking,
ἠέ σ᾽ ἐνὶ μνηστῆρσιν ἀείδω καὶ φιλότητι,
H: but(it)gave many(dyads),
πολλὰ δ᾽ ἔδωκε,
A: so that(mindful-of was)wooing Azantida(parched-sacred, dread-
girdled, anti-blossom)girl-daughter,
ὅππως μνωόμενος ἔκιες Ἀζαντίδα κούρην
H: but(the marriage)bed shamed, indeed(the grave)bedding
of lord Hephaistos.
λέχος δ᾽ ᾔσχυνε καὶ εὐνὴν
Ἡφαίστοιο ἄνακτος.
A: were(you)going with god-like Ischos(hip-loin-leash-strength)
at-once with well-horsed Elationides(fir-pine-tree-wood-driver-
charioteer-beating-forcing-outward-
smaller-deer)?
Ἴσχυ᾽ ἅμ᾽ ἀντιθέῳ Ἐλατιονίδη εὐίππῳ;
H: but at-once to-him(a)messenger came(and went), Helios(its-just-
the-sun), who perceived them mingling-in-lovemaking.
ἄφαρ δέ οἱ ἄγγελος ἦλθεν
Ἥλιος, ὅ σφ᾽ ἐνόησε μιγαζομένους φιλότητι.
A: or at-once(with)Thorbas(tumultuous-t-rex-against)the off-
spring by Triops(triad-eye-giant)?
ἢ ἅμα Θόρβαντι Τριοπέῳ γένος,
H: but Hephaistos, soon-as(he)heard(the)thumos-grieving(muthos)story,
there and then he stepped to go(come)to(his)forge(dyad-ugly),
(and)by the phrenes(heart-mind-built-deep)(he was)building-in-
the-deep(brooding)(pondering-secretly)dyad-uglies,
Ἥφαιστος δ᾽ ὡς οὖν θυμαλγέα μῦθον ἄκουσε,
βῆ ῥ᾽ ἴμεν ἐς χαλκεῶνα κακὰ φρεσὶ βυσσοδομεύων,
A: or at-once(with)Ereutheos(vomit-staining-fire-rageous-red)?
ἢ ἅμ᾽ Ἐρευθεῖ;
H: but(he)put the great anvil on the anvil-block, (o yes)
ἐν δ᾽ ἔθετ᾽ ἀκμοθέτῳ μέγαν ἄκμονα,
A: or at-once(with)Leukippos(white-bright-horse)and
(indeed)the wife(dame-tamer)of Leukippos(white-brightening-horse) . . .
ἢ ἅμα Λευκίππῳ καὶ Λευκίπποιο δάμαρτι
H: but he was hammering-out fastenings(fetterings-bonds-
halters(ships-mooring-cable)(knots)spells-latches-charms
(desmos)not-to-be-broken(not-to-be-loosed),
so that in-the-ground(steadfast)(safe)(un-decaying)(vigor-retaining)(never-
failing)on-the-spot they would stay(stand fast, stay at home, stay
where one is)(remain as one)(abide).
κόπτε δὲ δεσμοὺς
ἀρρήκτους ἀλύτους, ὄφρ᾽ ἔμπεδον αὖθι μένοιεν.
A: . . . on foot, but he by horses;
… πεζός, ὃ δ᾽ ἵπποισιν:
(universal-laughter)
H: nevertheless since(following the dyad-word-song)he made(built-
worked)the bait(trick-stratagem-of guile-craft-cunning-
treachery)provoked-to-anger by Ares,
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τεῦξε δόλον κεχολωμένος Ἄρει,
A: and not(one month)even
was Triops(triad-
eye)left behind;
οὐ μὴν Τρίοπός γ᾽ ἐνέλειπεν.
H: then and there(he)stepped, to go(or come)(we come)(and go)to
(his)bedchamber, where lay(his)beloved(made-by-)himself bed;
βῆ ῥ᾽ ἴμεν ἐς θάλαμον, ὅθι οἱ φίλα δέμνι᾽ ἔκειτο,
A: or as the first oracle(o oracle!)by human beings, seeking-
through the land(you)stepped, o throws-from-afar Apollo?
ἢ ὡς τὸ πρῶτον χρηστήριον ἀνθρώποισι
ζητεύων κατὰ γαῖαν ἔβης, ἑκατηβόλ᾽ Ἄπολλον;
H: but then, around(the)bedposts(he)was pouring(pour, you)the bonds
(fetters-head-bands)by an all-encompassing circle;
ἀμφὶ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἑρμῖσιν χέε δέσματα κύκλῳ ἁπάντῃ:
A: to Pieria(oopsy, her Piraeus)(fertile-muses-trial)indeed the first
from Olympos(on whom)you went-down;
Πιερίην μὲν πρῶτον ἀπ᾽ Οὐλύμποιο κατῆλθες:
H: but many(of them)and(indeed)down from roof-beams(houses)(lairs)
(cages)they were poured out, like(fine-thin-delicate-subtle)spider-
webs(small intestines, a very small coin, a jar, minutes-
seconds, moonlit-outages),
πολλὰ δὲ καὶ καθύπερθε μελαθρόφιν ἐξεκέχυντο,
ἠύτ᾽ ἀράχνια λεπτά,
A: and sandy Lektos(bed-ology)you passed by
and the(being-thrown-innies)Enienes
and(indeed)through the(sprinkling-crooked-
around-the-edges)Perraibos;
Λέκτον τ᾽ ἠμαθοέντα παρέστιχες ἠδ᾽ Ἐνιῆνας
καὶ διὰ Περραιβούς:
H: and none would ever see them, not even one of the blessed gods,
for(he)had built(it)around(wily - crafty - artful)subtleties(doloeis).
τά γ᾽ οὔ κέ τις οὐδὲ ἴδοιτο,
οὐδὲ θεῶν μακάρων: πέρι γὰρ δολόεντα τέτυκτο.
A: but swiftly(perhaps)into Iaolkos(o purple-poison-arrow-dragging-battle-
cry-cure)you were arriving, and you went upon Kenaios(that-there-
here-this-that-would-empty-center)of Euboia(lovely-
cows-eyes-say-moo), ship-famous —
O Nausikleia!
τάχα δ᾽ εἰς Ἰαωλκὸν ἵκανες,
Κηναίου τ᾽ ἐπέβης ναυσικλειτῆς Εὐβοίης.
from hymn to Apollo 200-219
Il. 24.1-24
Od. 8.264-281
horses into Potidaea
as orders taken, given. your hands
across my escalating
surface. unrolling
her
slight
resistance. as
i grow dependent on the flow
and pressure. here, faint
ridges. your soft uneven. catch,
drag,
time,
deposit. yours
until lazy again. until we depart,
until we let loose
the battle. they had
been born into Potidaea.
//
slight
until we depart
until we let loose
the battle
they had been born
into Potidaea
(her) this very moment they were (surfeit)
by this(her) those having learned it(her)
// 153β
Ὀλίγον
ἐγεγόνει
ἐν τῇ Ποτειδαίᾳ
ἣν ἄρτι ἦσαν οἱ
τῇδε πεπυσμένοι
serious ontology
is fan service. you who are about
to read, please understand. he will be born
the dirtiest ever poem — a thrusting savior
delivering so many ins and outs.
our she-body-battle is hare to meet Rocky.
his being a-lie-high-hive — abs flashing
in gold lamé underwear — running
mascara like horses. out-of-bounds
kissing, destination sen-
sa-si
//
O Socrates —
which i was —
as he says
how do you thrust into —
were you saved from out of the battle?
// 153β
//
camp army camp
rude wisdom
true story, when i was nine or ten
my father, at the time, sat me down
as fathers do, to read Plato’s Apology.
there had been a situation at school.
it was a public school and i was new.
it had to do with bullying and needing
to choose a side. well i guess a child
encounters force beside deliberation.
after i finished reading, he asked me
what Socrates would do. it was not
really a question. and i was no fool.
i said, but papa, i am not Socrates.
this morning, i woke up from a dream
about an oil spill. well the sign put forth.
it grew like coltsfoot in the broken step
where id removed an unbelonging one.
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
well i guess (oimai)
// 234β
ἐγὼ μὲν οἶμαι
//
the daddys issue
some days like i become your magazine
some days like i become your loaded gun
these days it makes no difference which (oil spill)
yes i read your letter yesterday and all
the days before, your hollow men, your dump
truck spat into my bed, and im not sure
it got there but i wrote you on the third
to say, how dare you write me when you never
learn to read a single fucking word
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
whether id recommend (para-aineein
for you
to gratify
all
the not-loving (ones) (me erosi)
// 234β
εἰ ἅπασίν σοι παραινῶ τοῖς μὴ ἐρῶσι χαρίζεσθαι
//
oil spill
a visit with the donkey of Rabi'a al-'Adawiya
if the world would like to hear how Rabi’a
gained courage or her strange immunity
to fear, for friendship, i would explain. yet,
a friend is not a purveyor of shallots; nor
pinned apples, by the donkey’s tale. her debt
of tears she brought with her most carefully.
this baggage carries me, her dogged ass;
my nag for recollection married with
my nap of opportunity. fresh dates
don’t pluck a prophet from the fetching tree.
a footfelt softness is velvet delivery
under her bending limb, and broken news
is armor. what teeming droplets, but by winter?
what is the desert, if not her country of birth?
what is her coin, if not the cake she gives
right back, the moment she has tasted worth.
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
and not as many as
will enjoy the gain (apo-lauein)
of your season (hora)
but those who will give after (meta-didonai)
of their own goods (ton spheteron agathon)
to one born older (presbuteroi genomenoi)
// 234α
οὐδὲ ὅσοι τῆς σῆς ὥρας ἀπολαύσονται
ἀλλ᾽ οἵτινες πρεσβυτέρῳ γενομένῳ τῶν σφετέρων ἀγαθῶν μεταδώσουσιν
//
in this, changed “dense” to “rich”.
have also reworked the (tricky)
first few lines of the Lysias speech.
inhuman allusion (where)
in shredded shadow hums her corners beastly nerve
end-hounding at the anklets of my wandering
by prowling tigers milk and heat evisceral
cuts lip to tongue amnesiacs re-hysteried word
stalks fear in what like a magician i have bound
blush turns like a trick pony shes ground me into
and if there was a choice that voice has been erased
thigh-hollows skittering rush from goose-flesh alter-flight
laughterless laugh to pique the predatory mask
high valleys ridges brimming overrun of rage
down slouching bowels round rapt plum of panic like
the sparrow silent as a fork in my ribcage
and somewhere in this feckled wilderness her heart
is pounding proud and naked by the rivers dark
on the doubled drums of gods anarchic metaphor
//
warm to a thremma
//
Indras net (what belongs to the familiar)
around her head a sardine circlet
around her foot mortality
around her voice a glittering corset
around her heart a memory
she reflected on the dawnlight
she was setting in her place
she looked sober in the photo
but you couldn’t see her face
eye for eye and cell to cell
did you knot me to be brave
did you tie me from a shoestring
toss my frame across the wave
name the garnet in my cherry
your horizon on the deep deep wine
as i lost count of drowning
for the promise of a rhyme
for your blessed rage to swallow
i was waiting at the altar
and a pearl was burning bitter-sweet
when i tasted your salt water
when i saw you in the restaurant yesterday
and you finally appeared
Indras net was drawing closer
Indras net was catching tears
when you saw that i was deadly
when you wrote my rib in two
i was made and i was unmade
to make better love to you
and every lace undoing
to find the heart of sand
and every mark to fill the worth of a blade
with the imprint of her hand
and every glass was melting thunder
to the predatory corner
and a little death for the purities of power
to the mountain out her window
to the wildflowers evening color
to the sky and sea and weather
to the darker voice that rose
to the horses all untethered
she heard it was one million
she heard one million seven
the circle dreamed it would be easy
the fishes knew it would be heaven
you know my situation
you know what keeps me here
you know ocean is an islands final word
and what belongs to the familiar
//
lyrics for conscience round
music and idea from angles morts
black earth again
black earth again, dear polyvinyl ground
my sticky firm dense heavy cell; as i ally
orthogonally wooden floorboards by
corners, lines matching lines before i begin
one week today since my last vinyasa
marks doubt, unsteady shakes from atrophy
least progress lost, the war postponed, disowned
like how to trust what grows out from under me
sunlight lemon on the grass, and cedar trees
are spirits in the haze of muscles memory
the distant greys, the vagus nerve, drishti
oh cave of susceptivity; go eyes, under skin
at distance they behold a cunning henge
never a sur disdains from calling out to me
the greening herb grows vivid on the verge
the plantar fascia curl to meet some solid life
in place, half-driven, half-reined, half-spark and half-
holding, i part, expose the seam between
the licking flame and tucking in the hem
of wilderness accounted for, enfolding or
away; my mountains weight of carbon presses light
through floss; down wayfinding impression-meshed
sensation of the sedimentary stone
by layers etching bone, wind, ocean, fire
and fury, glass gash obsidian; if you forget
the trembling earth is always giving birth
at core, the organs fluctuating sphere
the planetary pliable and fevers warmer door
no body no container without change
resistance treasures injury, the palm-press grain
desires engined ecstasy, ankle
of metaphor into the metabolic storm
a molecule descends its tap root; bowl, pelvic
electrifies the spinal flange to polarize
and draw the reins until weather turns self-strange
and tether twists, deranged; the synapse snaps
the white orbs of a nightmares rolling eyes
charred thunder muscled under the stringent seat
and faith is endless as pure body knows
who bites and remakes wretch into the mouthful
full dark full rain full speed full poetry
eleven if, and, in charges difference of the same
an arrow born mid-air is garden, regained
the static swallowed appetite of living hell
the globe interns red-ratioed rectangle
by burning every name is regrown mane
true mother, riding form as i hair-string the bow
whose shrieking womb my practice bends to tame
to time; the shadow letting tide, what, die-cut
by horizontal held; my cradle hard
harped infant of vacationing; and tempest swept
as sea refills the valley with somnambulent sanity
//
hark
to hear the tonic of their nightly play
as love is changing eyes in light of day
and who the lover, who beloved, held
as shade made young again, the poet shade
sweet length possessed translucency of leaves
and valley shelters longing’s grave delight
how sheer the veil betwixt the true is made
and barefoot is their tender-stepping sight
inscript resounding hollow as a tomb
body beholding spring again and bright
green heart grows whole again, the tree un-felled
for midnight girls around a golden wound
//
🌔
//
stable horses
night rising
wave
//
diptych oceanic amechanica
hysteriac at home
woe! i am a not altogether fortunate woman
my pocket seams with potsherds polishing
a bag of skin trailing portentous signs
and i am broken news, my sand is yellow
to find my edge, i walk into the sea
her seaweed briarpatch of gorgons birth
surrendered sky by pegasi recovery
as mermaids sing flat edges for my shanty
woe! her thanatos uncanny, even for me
the horizon roars for blessing every line
shore smashing every bauble blending shades
soft seashells made tangible the breast of ocean
and time is a tangent tracing its beloved snail
and the cradle failing of her continental tail
and she is drawing, drawing, under seasons wax
pink salty glowing in her seamless milk cocoon
woe, woe! my every mask a bending earth
reflowing throng of placeless impossibility
and desires every glance she didn’t chase yet
my marbles rolling in her depthless pocket
//
uteri
get em hot
skim cooling
like sumber bor
in 12 hrs or more
chocolate lava cake
stone melting
tropic shiver
truly your
earth dwelling
tacky decor
tasteless tasty
ova in—
ice tailor—
screaming
wicked
//
. . .
oh no!
dessert
amazing
1, 2, 3, ho!
smashing
to order
. . .
//
if not, xmas
I. fuck Sean Combs
headlice scratching
is garbage gothic like
urban mosquitoes
softballing curses
fuck Neil Gaiman too
on behalf of decent goths
other things said: sister, i know
you know a tall stupor too
like gutted up measured
rage, i’ll pour you tea
and tell you it’s whisky, if
you need empty or harder
i’ll give you my mask
i won’t even look
or obviously touch
a much drowned witness
when sunken city found
on too traceless tracys
rage, this harp is yours
sofa, word of an angel
bed, wish by a sigil
out winging like Ajax
the greater, vintage & archive
party discourses natal
twelve salt dissing courses
won’t tire her horses
bit ironies of Christmas
dirt snow glitter chain
gutter drain service entry
and no such thing as no
red-bottom chariot and pony-
tail hair, projectile vomit
acid tongue at the crossroads
an orphan army of kunai
invective & lashing 4 trash
Erinues down the river
//
II. if not, xmas
missing body
if a hinge
if a fold
in the cold
could hold
if not, xmas
//
III. pink parasol
is she meditating subtly for or
against me, this extraordinary tree
is her shady cooler or desiring me on
her radiant day of rest
if all the mended earth could be a bed
made lavender to fit her silent shadow
rough linen-covered pillow for a dream—
or both my heads grove bother
as she was oiling glass to sleep last night
trapped in the loudest windows of my head
her muscles pacing trafficky and sore
rewinder daily but more
and Jeki caught a mouse, that pitter-patter
crossed exposure with a vengeance, like
the summer used to blind and burn me, so
i veil, i veil, i veil
increasing constant collection of hats
my polarized knockoffs make me famous
pink parasol for pointillism in the park
to cover ankles, hands
and when i see her at the museum
like pastel whiteness for nobody happening
together all alone, closer with drawing
a disappearing lady
//
the river lapis lazuli
no, O shining one; blue is not that place
where winter did reach down with hoarfrost arms
bent bones to bruise the springtime of your face
and turn bare beauty’s promise into grief
real damage there was done; i can’t pretend
my drunk neither forgets, nor lying, amends
that hunting season waiting down our tears
cool river measures turquoise, there to here
still no; blue shall not sing by Tristan’s chord
raw wounding round its thralling emptiness
how many months hungering that underworld
she spends, grave daughter, eating bitter ashes
if she is me, let sapphire be my child by you
whose ugly was the laughing sky of love
my labyrinth, your golden through-and-through
soft multitudes, the movements of your dying
and no; your course was not a trap for girls
exquisite river lapis lazuli
blue hemlock was your legendary cure
a momentary how it is, it is
azure, just piece enough for memory
what graces by your leaves still green in me
this grove might tender shelter; with blue to show
by silence of the tree who names it so
//
selamat purnama 🌕
//
& ten candles
on my horse loverly
logician patrician
still finishing his still
blue earthy pastel
for brave accompany
her genus differentia
mycelia mysteria
her lightest touches
dear puffins, potatoes
& tatami gauze
//
receipt
lemons limes
Trojan War
hijab silken
breeze woken
slant pigeon
red of wing
golden floor
keepsake for
her lioness
hijab burning
pulses turning
nostos yearning
]
]
]
]
method ender
plete returning
tender deliver
by river liver
taste radiant
of summer
//
other things said:
Hades?
//
for simple
yes, and
or
Achaean horse
& canto II
//
my ruby eye
O you, who have suckled her bones
who have frowned at her horses
who have fingered her emerald
and now would taste her ruby too
and have i not enough exhaled
her undertowing rose at you
salt-sticky; here is sea-foam on skin
here are pregnant transparencies
and have i not already tossed
such tender and hard-bitten kisses
for sheath, another kris today
treasure accumulates like sand
behold an ever-angled wound
the spindle-pricked porosity of red
i am a self cutting gemstone
i bleed the emptiness of tools
i fling magenta words at birth
behold my prolonged scar of it
historical, faceting pre-wonder
tip that breaks her ice-pick tongue
she was a pirate and a fool
she ate the plexing devil fruit
vermillion stretching pelvic nerve
whose diadem lusts after you
and who is blinded by her kind
my fascination will glint cruel
sent basilisk or blushing bride
your fear will not take care of her
the heart, the fist, the appetite
when Cleopatra mounts insight
my empire burning leonine
by Mars, love’s favored principal
this reign of crimson tears divine
but sanguine as she’s gentle still
barefeet may meet the salad vine
and blue by babbled river’s chill
just so, what beggar wears my crown
is dying round the wheel again
out of her time, out of her mind
sweet dance, my dove perpetual
take this, the heartbeat of a sow
and let it flex upon your palm
it’s wet, the rumbling scarlet jet
now let her throb be thunder found
red wreath for convert cry, the end
how pilgrimage of period stain
i am in time, in time, will out
my ruby eye of her disposable throat
//
ποικιλόθρον’ ἀθανάτ’ Ἀφρόδιτα
& the probing path to yes
//
or not nothing
for saving the phenomena II
and more
//
//
bone teacher
bone teacher, her equation is the cold
bone teacher, antarctic demon i am told
her negative degrees, your nose will surely freeze
and the leaves are shaking
inflection, her judgment is frozen central
inflection, her cold bottom is biblical
winter is a time, winter makes you rhyme
whether or not you want it
i’m frostbit
and i have blue lips
bone teacher
the thought of parsnips
underground
wanting, gnawing numbers are her worm
wanting, a blizzard coming is her storm
a reckoning of beef, by frost on a leaf
or a vegan from Lesbos
i’m frostbit
and i want to cut her
bone teacher
but i think i love her
cold-bitter
waiting for the silence to come around
waiting for the mountains' thundering sound
but it’s not to do with me, and i can hardly see
the drip of an icicle
i’m frostbit
shivering in the glare
bone teacher
does she even care
she’s not there
icing, when her mercies are too few
icing, when she hides the glass from view
heartbeat in the snow, heartbeat going slow
and almost stopping
i’m frostbit
am i a grizzly bear
bone teacher
the question isn’t there
it’s nothing
stepping, her boots are laced so high
stepping, her pointer blinds the sky
glacial is her height, the emptiness of white
rumors of a pop quiz
i’m frostbit
darkness coming on
bone teacher
never seen the dawn
it’s marching
her bones are so grim, her cold does me in
or a pale horse riding
//
slow shuffling blues;
for my hs math teacher
Ms. Dyas <3
//
the horse’s mouth
teloscopically, my dear, are we botany
born reading leaves, the pricking fear of bees
are talking, my lisp, or rearing wobbly nature
what place, organs and bodies, this disease
the shying seasons blowing through us, here
parts animal in starts, quivering vibrations
made artifacts suspect by cities, near
or far, the accidents survived, the prisons
that ended us; the motes and moths in teas
our flicks or running rivers; wicked courses
of understanding; what catastrophes
what phase our faces, without the faith of horses
you have to have a horse whose feet you trust
to warn you when a snake is in the grass
the serpentine who wants to be unseen
repenting for her gemstone like an asp
for forking tongues, a talisman is key
but wear a hat, they’re speaking from the trees
odd shrubberies are bristling with false friends
a firecat bristling back can help with jinn
mosquitoes here are vectors for torpedoes, so
herbal experiment and/or gorilla war
sometimes there’s one snake, sometimes there are more
at least, no kind of viral is a pearl
a tender canter, daemonic carousel
remembered ribbons bite in ancient ways
we play the venom clockwise in our veins
we shed the dead redundancy of days
my jungle is a dreadful-clever dreaming
with shade-grown coffee, waterfalling views
what godly voices animate my evening
there’s none i’d rather jungle with than yous
let’s nicker maps, reverb the mythic blues
i spell, where y’all are going, where you been
switch witches laughter with the beating rain
the crickets will out-round the macet, friend
to live outside the law, you must be honest
Bismillahirrohmanirrohim
by river dark, inside a wounded dawn
we rhyme it, we just flow to make it rheme
//
(Dylan, my Prophetﷺ, Cohen, Cardi B, etc)
//
diet
never too much
garlic, carrot, oat
sleep, cake
but gingerly
the fungi
//