Pharmakon
IX.ii. now sleep ( under the armor ) of a swan
ADEIMANTOS: ( hasnt really slept )
but how to transubstantiate these two?
( we stay up too late ) working on poetry.
( we dream in bed at noon ) worked on by poetry.
( what on earth time even are we ? )
SOKRATES: but( the )most( of )them( selves )
( the )one( i - we )wondered( marvelled at )
( admired, honored, worshipped )( the most )
( out of )the many who( which )lie( falsify )( belie ),
μάλιστα δὲ αὐτῶν ἓν ἐθαύμασα τῶν πολλῶν ὧν ἐψεύσαντο,
ADEIMANTOS: ( that shes a staggering girl, caught in his bill ? )
( that she got me some horses to ride on, too . . . )
( that -eve been givn birth ins armor as -ell )
( that she used to sleep with a postcard of a long-lost -
encountered Michelangelo near the bed )
( the terror of it almost ripped, but off ? )
( . . . )
( who comes and goes, we lie in these white rushes
and are kept ) ( they flush her red-stained clothes )
and the blizzard brooding over us would never
allow a lizard near the nest ( may we beauty-call
her breast-of-axe ? ) the countless atmospheres
of winters end, but only when she wants it to
( weve called her Heras arms ) never( self )theless
belying them that wonders him the most:
that we lie ( awake alone ) untouched by him,
that we lie in her palaestra, guarded by countless of them,
OUTIS: never( self )theless( we-)i(-being )
( of the )king opposite( over - against )
( they - we )came( and went )( through )horses
( stallions - mares )( includes a chariot )
and( indeed )( we )kissed( its dyad )knees
( and )seizing( grasping )( capturing them ),
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ βασιλῆος ἐναντίον ἤλυθον ἵππων
καὶ κύσα γούναθ᾽ ἑλών:
ADEIMANTOS: and with nobodys dyad-heroic grip
we are ( willing the reality to shift )
we are drawn deeper in the river darkening
of some growing protection mantra( -p ),
SOKRATES: this( one )
in which they( we - i )( are )saying
( a song of mourning )( lament )( elegy ),
τοῦτο ἐν ᾧ ἔλεγον
ADEIMANTOS: we are his ( villified, crucified ) destruction:
we are her ( magnified, sanctified ) guardianship:
( and when dark webs, her nape caught in its bill )
we long for you ( the morning to arrive )
as this moment of his-and-hers conception,
OUTIS: ( o )( she-way )( kept me from harm )( safe )( guarded )( pro-
tected )( tended )( as shepherd )( tended )( as maid )
( protected from inclemency )( of weather )( covered-up
the nakedness )( kept back )( detained )( lay in wait
for )( kept watch )( and ward over )( defender as of
a city )( brought out of danger )( saved )( rescued
from troubles )( and in reference to immaterial things )
( held in keeping )( to be the depositary of )( within
the breast )( not to allow me to break out )( kept me
in the mind )( refrained from uttering )( in possession
of )( comprehended )( observed )( carrying out some-
thing resolved upon )( anothers will )( paying constant
attention )( keeping in mind )( arrested
a missile in its course )
( . . . )
( as )( re-middle-voiced-verb )
( . . . )
this(-he )dragged( me )( drew )( pulled )( myself )
( dragging my own body from the fight )( hauled-off )
( drew me away as causing me to quit )( the specified position )
( plucked )( tore at )( the skin from my own bone )( with a view
to demolishing )( pulled about and tore the corpse )( drew me off
the spits )( meat-like )( drew his ship up out of the water )
( dragged down a ship in order to launch her )
( bent and strung and drew his bow )( drew
his sword )( took into his hand the knife )( hoisted )
( ready to weigh )
( . . . )
and( indeed )( both )
( . . . )
showed me mercy( compassion ),
ὁδ᾽ ἐρύσατο καί μ᾽ ἐλέησεν,
ADEIMANTOS: as his-they appears ( with a solution ) for
duplicities of vipers formulae,
his war against her whole embodiment,
the bitterness of stagnant elements,
the left-droppings of its indifferent beak,
the self-harm spectacle they make of her,
without its guardian, by which refuse
of anyone — at all — except with care,
SOKRATES: as( to fall upon )( attack )( lay hands upon )( you )
(-plural )( one ought to proclaim an oracle )( of her )
( one ought to beware )( be discreet )( cautious )
( to take care )( and precautions )( of her )
( one ought to beware of )( pay honour to )( watch
for )( await quietly )( one )must
to be taken hold with care
you( accused - plural ),
ὡς χρῆν ὑμᾶς εὐλαβεῖσθαι
ADEIMANTOS: but ( with an answer ) whose cause resides
in his accused ( in its flame killed ) as apo-trepein rape —
her-keeping-whole his-tearing-him-aparts
( as aitiatike, itself his nom rejects )
how would they make and do, to be took hold
( no sudden blow: the great wings beating ) well?
OUTIS: but on( the )chariot( he-)making me to sit( as for business )
( as )( you put clothes on me )( dresses, suits, shrouds, armour )
to lead( to carry )( to fetch me )( and to bring )
( to carry me as captive for oneself )
( to guide )( to manage )( to educate me )
( to train me )( to draw me out )( let me be drawn )
( to hold )( to celebrate )( to hold account )
( to treat )( believe in me )( to draw
me down )
( . . . )
( as waves )( they break and shiver )( crashed - through )
( and spread - around )
( . . . )
homeward
( . . . )
( the )tear( tears - )pouring( the tear )
( the it - tear )( he - accusative - pouring )( the it - tear ),
(280) ἐς δίφρον δέ μ᾽ ἕσας ἄγεν οἴκαδε δάκρυ χέοντα.
ADEIMANTOS: from all the out-pourings ( just one ) tear
nobody ( accused ) tearing us ( a clear path to follow )
( a trail of tear ) ( as this goats bleeding fearlessness )
nobodys school for celebrated horses
( clear as en - oh ) ( no ),
SOKRATES: lest( by )from( under )me
( you - plural )( would be )deceived
( tricked )( cheated )( beguiled )
( whoopsie ),
μὴ ὑπ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἐξαπατηθῆτε (17β)
ADEIMANTOS: she says ( just follow the steps )
( as to which he says ) lets let it take us well:
we would not reenact a heartless crime,
OUTIS: ( we are )( she says )( he says )( it says )( truly )( or )( eh )
( sometimes maybe he likes to prove it )
even-indeed( to-by-for )me very( dyad-secretly-she )
( the )many( hims )( they - we )rush at( upon )( assault, assail )
( makin frequent swoops )( to-by-for )the ashwood spears,
( he - they )releasing( hurling - sending - letting - go
uttering - letting loose - throwing - shooting - speeding -
hastening - springing - upon - eager - as desiring - )
( kill, you )to kill,
ἦ μέν μοι μάλα πολλοὶ ἐπήϊσσον μελίῃσιν,
ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι—
ADEIMANTOS: sometimes we feed the rowdiest of gulls,
( souvent nous ressemblons à l’albatros )
sometimes we play with gremlins or typhoons,
( his better falsehood weaker strongholds him )
( but not today, william butler yeats )
( her rabies vaccination up to dates )
sometimes it wears the cloth sack of a men
( so mastered baits the brute blood of the air )
as to which we say ( all will be fine ),
SOKRATES: as( of a )fearful( thing )( deinos )
( marvelous, clever, awesome,
strange, horrible, terrible )
( you )( exaggerate terribleness, you )
( we-)being to speak( gather, pick up )
( count, tell, reckon, tell over, say,
command, mean, plead, sing of ),
ὡς δεινοῦ ὄντος λέγειν.
ADEIMANTOS: for which we sacrificed hi-magi-nary cock
( we feed him neath the dyad-mulberry tree )
for which we let ourselves, kid-napped, to wok
( her dragons tears crashed round her fire-core
some years before ) ( those living mares of ocean )
but only his could staunch his brothers pyre
( so letting in its technique with its power )
yet sip by sip the strangers hearts would melt
( this elegy would wind our way as one )
as to which we say ( all will be good ),
OUTIS: for this(-o dyad-god )( she was binding )( bind, you )
( god-needed-bound )( she was in-need )( need, you )
( the dyad-god )( indeed )( must be-)then,
( for )( they had been )conceived of wrath( provoked to anger )
exceedingly( very overmuch )( extraordinarily ),
δὴ γὰρ κεχολώατο λίην—
ADEIMANTOS: go back to sleep now, she says, and sleep well
and when we wake, again as from eternity
for he sleeps true who well well be, be sure
we sleep ( now sleep ) by-from-under the un-
broken day-breaking armor of swan-song
//
from hymn to Apollo
Apologia
Odyssey XIV
VIII.xxiv. ( we wont ) rot ( unless ) we forget ( its his pòò ) in the well
ADEIMANTOS: O sailors of our craft, O Polly-tay,
how blows the wind on this, her holly-day?
SAILORS: who( which-all? )( what-all? )( -all? ), then,
( o somebodys )( o anybodys )( o many anyones )
( do you pay the price? )( do you pay-off your debt? )
( she-dyad-god )( was she binding )( bind, you )( god-
needed-bound )( was she in-need )( need, you )
( she-dyad-god )( indeed )must( be ) ?
τίνες δή;
ADEIMANTOS: aaah . . . she holds so much uncertainty,
but still its me, o yet-un-answered-we !
and how exhilaration bellows off the sea !
these breezes high indeed, and so far-flung
from smog of city men, she saves our lung.
but ( the air is thick with the smell of rot )
below, within our private pilots cell.
for she without be she within as well,
and ( weve been burning dupa ) given me
as gifts from islanders who welcome guests.
for there be no more pious men than what
some unreal men call swarthy savages,
gave scent helps me-ears mingling mightly.
whereby ( we hear ) shes ( clinging on tightly )
to what, an ear, an oar, the yard-arm or
the mast, broke be that merry beam no more,
no scrub for me, no scrub for her, sailors
supplied to do all dirtier chores,
let me, let be, relax, o soothing sea.. ( . . . Enya )
. . ( ..and then we talk )-( with her and really listening )-( better ),
HERA: but still( he )who, at least,
braver( stronger-mightier-better ) — be(
we )as much as far-sounding( euru-opa )Zeus( would be
braver )( mightier )( stronger )( better )( than )Kronos,
ἀλλ᾽ ὅ γε φέρτερος ἔστω, ὅσον Κρόνου εὐρύοπα Ζεύς.
SOKRATES: which( even-indeed, o )most wonderful
( marvellous, extraordinary )of all to hear,
ὃ μὲν πάντων θαυμαστότατον ἀκοῦσαι,
ADEIMANTOS: lets fare-thee-well, O best goddess !
at least as much as Euru-dike would-( we
)-be braver than Euru-opa? what crazy ratios.
but would that she ( who made herself in me ) meet herself ( in we ) !
our promise as our payment, dear divine,
( and everything Achilles would to pine ),
yet smouldering ( of leaves ) leaves air unclear.
( the what ifs and the buts ) begin to appear
soon as our flourish in pink ( -ink ) on papier,
SOKRATES: that in each of( those )which( we )praised
( approved, commended )( of )the( she- )nature
( growth-birth-origin )
( it )destroys( demolishes )( slays )( lays waste )( loses )
the( she- )having-holding-
( they cool )( we cool )( to be cool )( cooling )( of her )-soul
( life, spirit, ghost, source, self ),
ὅτι ἓν ἕκαστον ὧν ἐπῃνέσαμεν τῆς φύσεως ἀπόλλυσι τὴν ἔχουσαν ψυχὴν
ADEIMANTOS: and indeed to live in crucial-fiction, which ( witch ) brings
us to the ever-controversial ( mushrooms ).
first thing a mushroom ( we are ) many things.
it goes both ways, or three or four, parts-sing.
( we recommend those only grown on dung
or best discovered with a trusted pig. )
eat me, they seem to say, eat her, or you?
or you-know-who! or him? not mine to say.
and mushrooms come in different kinds, my kids,
( unsafe to say weve tried more than a few? )
they do a number on my surely-temple,
on whom, we wait for guidance from above
as sailors hit the decks, tripping-( and for
a moment )-if our sailors loose the ship —
SOKRATES: and( indeed, it )( would )tears- and drag( away-
from )( you )( would )( be tearing-away-
from )( she- )philosophy( wisdom-love ),
καὶ ἀποσπᾷ φιλοσοφίας.
ADEIMANTOS: as which, we call a mushroom bad-for-you ( poison ).
( but this has been a little prophecy )
( exteeeeeeeeeeeeeeended metaphor )
( a little pharmacy of written word )
( translating too all of the media that
the vast
numbers of men consume ) ( and possibly soul-
alter-
altar-ring technology ) ( which leaves a lot
of room ) ( we maybe beauty-calling scrolls )
but ( we flip? ) into this irony ( of anti-scroll
as these-shes grow the trippiest of blooms )
and how spores drift in the all-pink
( a soul put under things at her own risk )
( and men on-going tax her stretchiness )
( he-they his remedy or pharmakon for his )
( he-they his own doctor his own ills )
as ( the hopeful dreams ) gathering- and holding-in,
( and the things we refuse to say ) to my best friend,
( really? ) ( of course ) my best friend ( we-being ) second-self,
( easy for him to say ) ( just stole to-for-by Aristotle )
( we are true pirates, through it all )-( but shhh )
in letters like a daily vitamin,
in some ancient cloud of shroom, weird-stream,
( by our best-friend-ship )-( we forget to hate myself )
and so this mushroom got our horses out,
SOKRATES: but( we would )say( she- )manliness( courage ),
λέγω δὲ ἀνδρείαν,
ADEIMANTOS: ( and you pinch )-( the goblin that lives in my head )
not hard! ( but fit to chase it out of bed )
( then baits it with a bite ) of ( sprinkles! ) sweet medicine.
and possibly the goblin could turn cat
( or rat ) ( or dinosaur ) ( and it could bite me pretty bad )
( but we wont let go of the wanting ) and even
as we never did, even in ( my scare-
crone heart )-( born on fragrant spring mornings )
( in her salad days ) ( before the unrealpolitik )
( before bad wisdom ) yet salvaging the goods
( as drawing butterflies on whats discarded )
( to-by-for ) me and you ( becoming beautiful
and young again ) ( in-seeming poetics of )
SOKRATES: ( she-)moderation( sophrosune )( sound-
mindedness, prudence, discretion )
and( indeed )
( all things )which( she-dyad )( we )go through
all( which )( things )( his-so-called-all )( the she-dyad ),
σωφροσύνην καὶ πάντα ἃ διήλθομεν.
ADEIMANTOS: but we have some words on poems
haphazard heraldry ( even seeming innocuously )
when living words get put down as fixed form.
( they turn into the ache of yearning ) tossed
across however many continents,
with latitude and longitude intact,
but tissue burden highly over-stretched,
for ( the yearning ) never could yearning dispell
and such i( wheres the we? )s life, and such i( wheres the we? )s happiness,
all mans desire(s residuum ) ( keeps poisoning
the well of hope ) like all my cold hard pennies cast
for wishes
( swallowed fishes )
( empty stare )
HERAKLES: but Hermes sent( escorted-conducted )me,
and( look, you )gleaming-( glaukopis )-
eyed Athena( o Athens, o Politeia ),
Ἑρμείας δέ μ᾽ ἔπεμψεν ἰδὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.'
ADEIMANTOS: so circumnavigated metaphors,
but written as ourselves of messy words,
or forceful dreams, dreams of a force to reckon
with her eyesight even ( as intense as the nettles )
would we guard ( the dreaming ) until ( we earn his name ) ?
and even as we drink ( the water never fully clear )
with every draught of some forgetfulness,
and rarely shallow, mostly deep ? and as
to navigation ( on some how-divided-line ) ?
whats some logos ( word-speech-ratio-account ) as set down
here, that would ( will ) keep us well on the way?
SAILORS: placeless( out-of-place, out-of-the-way, un-
wonted, extra-ordinary, strange,
para-doxical, ab-surd )
( a-topos ),
ἄτοπον,
SOKRATES: ( smiles primly and steeples his hands )
well even ( with their outstretched arms ) in love
( no matter how hard we keep trying ) him ( its purifying! )
( my nettle tea ) he wont ( we wont ) seize hold of me,
ADEIMANTOS: even( indeed )beautiful( her-we-being )
therefore( to-by-for )me,
καλὴ μὲν οὖν μοι
SAILORS: ( he )was saying,
ἔφη,
SOKRATES: and indeed they ( reach for me on my way home )
( theres always a drop somewhere ) ( or how do you live? )
but he wont ( we wont ) be poisoned by his hope ( or his despair ),
ADEIMANTOS: and( indeed )the( she- )guidance( pompe )
( conduct, escort, sending-home, sending-mission, she-procession )
( of )( the local customs )( of the chorus )( of the dances )
( on the open spaces )( epi-chorion )( on the chora )
would seem-seemly to( we-being )be,
καὶ ἡ τῶν ἐπιχωρίων πομπὴ ἔδοξεν εἶναι,
SAILORS: to hear,
ἀκοῦσαι. (491ξ)
SOKRATES: from the unsightly, you may feel fear.
however ( not quite touching ) her ( through-shining ) heart,
you wont ( we wont ) look backwards at her shade
leaving e.g. likenesses of gibbering bats, ( !? )
ADEIMANTOS: not however( even-indeed-by-you )inferior
( o worse, weaker, less, fewer )( did she )appear( shining-
forth )to resemble( be conspicuously like, befit, beseem )
( she )whom the Thracians( o Thracians )( we )were sending,
( he offers Book III for more specific guidance ) <3
οὐ μέντοι ἧττον ἐφαίνετο πρέπειν ἣν οἱ Θρᾷκες ἔπεμπον.
SOKRATES: just so, he holds my trust and confidence
no worse than they hold my written art;
( and then it spreads ) abroad our pharmakon.
ALL: ( and blowing in the wind for all to hear )
and then it spreads abroad our pharmakon !
ADEIMANTOS: ( . . . ) ( later in our private cell )
yet he left me with more questions than when ( whò? )
began. ( yet it had been the ) END ( of ) part VIII
( until )
( . . . )
( hes obviously been looking back
in the pages of the ledger ) wondering what it means
( at first incredulous toward any pro-
hibition against self-looking ) ( let alone self-touching )
( but having-holding a spiders sense ) how not
to look backwards at her shade? ( and finding them
in need of certain re-visions, re-translations )
just pondering ( them ) making certain changes
( oh ) ( groaning )-( laughing ) ( of course ) ( straightening-out
one-by-one like slight monsters ) ( web ) not
because it made me to, but because it makes
it make better sense ( but in a leisurely way )
( and just us two ) ( me and you ledger )
( and with a dawning recognition ) she hasnt
been led astray, she hasnt incurred the wrath
of any important he, really ever, and that
this path has been a straight path, never-
theless seeming and having felt so ( beauty-calling ) squiggly
( nor being the snake that swallowed a stick )
( mostly these three, which-they reached out like good
test-cases ) ( oh ) ( how about instead
to write this one here from memory ) ( for now )
( and he would leave the former in whatever
version got left . . . ) is that my intended task?
( cackling at shopping carts full of unpurchased poems )
Hera forgive me if this is too me-involved
( it seemed itself-involved ) ( trial )( to-by-for )( trials ) as ever
( . . . )
the spinners distaff ( on genealogy )
for when youre here, have this of me. as time
lets go of us, a song escapes the circlet in
a stranger coming home; eventuality.
under covers of moonlight, the sheets
softened by memory, a gnawing book-
worm spins the orphanage; mulberry leaves.
some shadows at a funeral see less, and lesson
me, nightmare and burning limb; tree spun
to hold a hand in grace, fatherlessness.
( . . . )
equally
if you would really ask
me
ἴσως
ἂν οὖν ἔροιό
με
( Phaedrus 234β )
( . . . )
equally. today wanting to do something like this
but feeling like we need your permission ?
( . . . )
three ( on_a_loop ) on black swan lake
hold me so tight we can barely breathe
on loop in my head, that thought
useless
we want to leave
for we feel unloved
we cant leave
for we feel unlovable
a loop of equally bleak options
i shouldnt and i cant and im not allowed
but we do and we are and we want
these words repeating
nothing else left
//
( . . . )
it gave me tears last night to imagine
giving those three a place. weve been told to follow
tears, so. meteorology. but this next . . . one ?
it seems a perfect candidate not just to toss
but to hurl fom afar ( we understand now about Homeric
verbs ) ( and they have a movement ) like a projectile off
the ship, but not such as this would we share
amongst those of the Politeia, and he would beg
Homer and other poets not to blame us
please sirs for
( . . . )
the daddys issue
some days its like im your magazine
some days its like im your loaded gun
these days it makes no difference which oil( one )spill
yes we received your letter yesterday and all
the days before, your hollow men, your dump
truck spat into my bed, and were not sure
you got it but he wrote you on the third
to say, how dare you write me when you never
learn to read a single fucking word
( . . . )
he cant imagine a good reason to write it again.
( she doesnt think it bothered you though ? )
( oops almost forgot the Greek - )
whether id recommend
for you
to gratify
all
the not-loving ( ones )
( Phaedrus 234β )
εἰ ἅπασίν σοι παραινῶ τοῖς μὴ ἐρῶσι χαρίζεσθαι
( we wants to know which one of yours you would put next? )
but speaking of the στεφανώσασα, news:
wow ( thats one big old ugly hooker )
( good luck us! ) doin my best <3
( . . . )
( to be clear, she would seem a beautiful and good hooker
yet the word ugly written so many times on an old it
indicated to me its an old ugly hooker )
( or its baiting me into saying ugly things )
( which seems like an ugly thing to do )
( and admittedly feeling uncomfortable about what seems
from the outside to be a big rape joke )
( and not trusting this one the same as the other one )
( but having only today begun closer translation
it remains unclear what anything is )
( anyway its a lot and may take me more time than expected )
( . . . )
todays notes. okay. eyes adjusting.
barley-cakes fermenting under the kitchen countertop.
( . . . )
keeps thinking about a boy in the audience.
//
from hymn to Apollo
Republic I, VI, X
Odyssey. 11.613-626
tiny lines ( green glades ) warm bodies
ADEIMANTOS: o dear Herakles, its very strange ( we are )
as all the dreams it seemed were hers, to keep
under the deepness of Kalupsos veil,
begin re-surfacing, warmth from below.
as of their own billow, yet familiar.
and once before, he sent me to fetch Pindar,
like busting-out some long-forgotten gramps,
another little ( fuck the end goal ) act,
becoming his own victory wreath in fact.
does somebody not-at-all fawn on Kalupso?
PINDAR: but if someone within
( they gave in )( gave up )( gave way )( surrendered )( yield )
( deals-out )( dispenses )( pays out )holds( hoards )( you hoard )
( to-by-for )( a dyad-glade )hidden( secret, clandestine )wealth
( riches, treasure ),
εἰ δέ τις ἔνδον νέμει πλοῦτον κρυφαῖον,
ADEIMANTOS: but only playing music with real men,
PINDAR: but( while )falling-upon( meeting )( attacking )( he )laughs
( delights )( you would laugh )( to-by-for )others,
(100) ἄλλοισι δ᾽ ἐμπίπτων γελᾷ,
ADEIMANTOS: as for the third time ( fuck the end goal ),
PINDAR: ( the )( she- )soul( life, spirit, self )( to-by-for )Hades,
( he )( will be accomplishing )achieving( its )end( of ends )
( of ones having reached their end )not
ψυχὰν Ἀΐδᾳ τελέων οὐ
ADEIMANTOS: so sneaky with his line breaks to
PINDAR: show-forth( tell, declare )( make-known )( perceive, observe )
( expectations, beliefs, reputations, glories )( the soul,
life, spirit, self )( he )seeming( far away from )
( expectation, belief, reputation )glory without,
φράζεται δόξας ἄνευθεν.
ADEIMANTOS: thats him with most of the guts spilled out.
and if you try to put the guts back in,
a simpler shadow, but almost the opposite of him,
attempted facial reconstruction, or
the outer he-hand-in manually dis-
contains the inner whole?
PINDAR: but if anyone hoards hidden wealth( green glades )within,
while marking others( whats? )with laughter( derision? ),
they dont perceive( nor show )the soul, without
a reputation, achieves its end( un-seemingly )in Hades.
ADEIMANTOS: but hm, couldnt it also be,
PINDAR: the soul, without
an expectation, achieves its end( en-gloriously )by Hades,
ADEIMANTOS: but o, these leave me so many questions
exposed. holding this small yet manly creature
in my hands, he wont stay still, so actively alone
or agonizing, or does he host our secret club
for brunch? how would you translate him?
HERAKLES: and( indeed )once( o drinkin-drunk )he sent me( thither- )
hither to( will-to )( dyad- )lead-carry-fetch-
bring( the o dyad- )dog,
( they-were led-fetched-brought )
( they-will lead-fetch-bring ),
καί ποτέ μ᾽ ἐνθάδ᾽ ἔπεμψε κύν᾽ ἄξοντ᾽:
ADEIMANTOS: o you, but were we really such
a Kerberos? ( get it ) ( a Care Bear - os? )
( the rest and recharge ) seeming long enough,
that sizzle building everywhere round here,
until ( we can almost feel ) another earth
( bust out across her cosmic dancing floor ),
( and we feel giddy ) with this possibility
which ( we are happy to hear ) many returns
( the valley trembles with the laughter of words ),
SAILORS: ( ragin )violently( drunk )at least,
σφόδρα γε.
ADEIMANTOS: for thats how we set out to find you, friend.
but look, he never would have sent me here
alone. he needed me to learn really
to share. so guided by ( your body heat )
and by her ( maybe a tad silly ) under-
over-statement ( our de-stabled song ),
didnt he leave us everything, not only
for my survival, but everything ( needed
for my revival ) ( and all our horses too ) ?
HERAKLES: for( he )didnt consider( ponder, purpose, plan,
suppose, observe )( there )( we )to be( are )yet( o fellows )( an )other
stronger( mightier )task( contest-struggle-ordeal )
( to-by-for )me, at least, ( than )this,
οὐ γὰρ ἔτ᾽ ἄλλον
φράζετο τοῦδέ γέ μοι κρατερώτερον εἶναι ἄεθλον:
ADEIMANTOS: to bring her back from famously unseen?
( but tiny lines draw big pictures ) indeed,
and ones ( so close to me ) with extra gravity
stirrup kuklonik storms, and red-rimmed-eyes,
and all that force ( requires such safety )
and sensitivity as ( extra-dyad-security ),
SOKRATES: of these( o dyad-god )
( she was binding )( bind, you )( god-needed-bound )
( she was in-need )( need, you )( the dyad-god )
( indeed )must( be ),
( of )the slight-few
( look, you! )
( he )looks( at )( considers )( and beholds ),
τούτων δὴ τῶν ὀλίγων σκόπει
ADEIMANTOS: and so daimonic ( growing underground )
and utterly lazy, and lets this be our luxury,
the slighter-few, the better-tea, to taste.
( and then we feel ) safe, cozy, warm ( only
the presence ) of me and you and trusted words
enjoying ourselves ( and the artwork were in )
floating across her rosy surreality
would bloom into his dance of many forms,
SOKRATES: as( o )many( he )destructions
( ruins, pests, plagues, pandemics, deaths )
and( indeed )( as )( many )( he )greats( bigs, full-
growns, vasts, highs, wides and longs,
mighties and strongs )( impressives ),
ὡς πολλοὶ ὄλεθροι καὶ μεγάλοι.
ADEIMANTOS: ( but giggling uncontrolled )
and with ( the lightest touch ) from them ( his hims )
( but maybe when we play with him he gets
more firm? ) you stop it now, and how on earth
would somebody perform? ( ok lets act elegant )
and with ( the lightest touch ) from her, she moves
right through, across, against, yet soothes the waves,
our she-vessel bringing me, and horses, her,
( we becoming )-( steadily more beautiful )
until we give birth even to the presence
really ( of another warm body ) ?
HERAKLES: it( even )indeed( we )i( being )brought( raised
it )up( and back )( poured-forth )( traced-to )( restored )
and( indeed )( they led )( we )led( fetched-carried-
brought )( it )out( from )Hades,
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἀνένεικα καὶ ἤγαγον ἐξ Ἀίδαο:
ADEIMANTOS: yet as ( the dream is real )-( we-being-we ),
the dreaming returns all to me once more.
( in wanting there is fear )-( we are aware ).
so may we hold our fear, even as we hold a child
beloved. even as what we ( could offer ) her
( and trying never to steal the thunder from
tomorrows storm ) would be gladly to deal-out-
inwardly and hold and hoard ( green glades )
( green glades ) ( green glades ) as well as
such excellent odes from a somebody.
//
from hymn to Apollo
Pindar Isthmian 1
Republic VI
Odyssey XI.613-626
VIII.xii. end goal-( wild-( in a language( the wave of )unknown )-fire )-fighting sleep
ADEIMANTOS: hold on to your buts,
MEDEIS( NOBODY ): O( to-by-for )me( we )i( being )cowardly( vile,
worthless, lowborn, mean, afraid, miserable, wretched, poor ),
ADEIMANTOS: we ask myself,
MEDEIS: what( someone )now( to-by-for )me longest-
lasting( would be )born?
ὤ μοι ἐγὼ δειλός, τί νύ μοι μήκιστα γένηται;
ADEIMANTOS: keep your ifs inside the she-vessel,
PINDAR: ( o )HIGHEST( uppermost, most supreme )horse-driver
( charioteer )( thunder-hurler )( lyre-striker )( rower )
( who drives away )( a broad, flat cake )( hoop-stick )
of untiring( of foot )thunder —
( astonishment ! )
ZEUS,
ἐλατὴρ ὑπέρτατε βροντᾶς ἀκαμαντόποδος Ζεῦ:
ADEIMANTOS: but keep your ands easy to reach-for,
HERAKLES: but he( and yall )inflicted upon( imposed )
( commanded-charged-prescribed )
( gave an order )( to-by-for )me
difficult( cruel-harsh-stern-dangerous-violent-
malignant )tasks( contests-conflicts
struggles-ordeals ),
ὁ δέ μοι χαλεποὺς ἐπετέλλετ᾽ ἀέθλους.
ADEIMANTOS: good thing ( its not the end goal ) that matters,
as swirling voices ( we really believe ),
and were not sure yet if its irony,
but ( the way you respond only to me )
would momentarily become difficult,
MEDEIS: we( would )fear lest
( it )( o dyad-god )( she was binding )( bind, you )
( god-needed-bound )( she was in-need )( need,
you )( the dyad-god )( indeed )must( be ),
all( the )( dyad- )goddess( unerring )infallible said,
(300) δείδω μὴ δὴ πάντα θεὰ νημερτέα εἶπεν,
ADEIMANTOS: and ( my skin is electricity ) charged
with the polarity of poetries,
( we-turning ) languages of men
inside organic me,
PINDAR: for your( she- )SEASONS( being-fitting-times ),
τεαὶ γὰρ ὧραι
MEDEIS: she spoke( to-by-for )me in the sea,
ἥ μ᾽ ἔφατ᾽ ἐν πόντῳ,
ADEIMANTOS: aiming less for instability,
PINDAR: TURNING( -dancing- )ROUND( whirling-
plying )( winding-minding )under the subtle( -many-
colored-complex-dappled-embroidered-wily-unstable-
)notes of the lyre-( phorminx )-SONG —
ὑπὸ ποικιλοφόρμιγγος ἀοιδᾶς ἑλισσόμεναί
ADEIMANTOS: balancing the two of these,
bearing witness to his nostos,
MEDEIS: before( you )come( reach )( approach )
( supplicate )( the she- )fatherland( she )earth,
πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι,
ADEIMANTOS: or coming home to his witnessing,
PINDAR: ( they-she )SENT me,
μ᾽ ἔπεμψαν
ADEIMANTOS: and ( its the journey ) we say OUT LOUD,
as we can barely hear herself,
over these hims,
MEDEIS: ( you would )FULFILL( have full measure of )
( you would feel pains )( he was feeling pains )
( feel pain, you )( dyad- )PAIN( sufferings, grief ),
ἄλγε᾽ ἀναπλήσειν:
ADEIMANTOS: dipping fingers
in the teacup,
PINDAR: ( as )WITNESS( o witness )( o guardian )
of the HIGHEST( loftiest )( proudest )
contests( struggles, tasks, conflicts, ORDEALS ),
ὑψηλοτάτων μάρτυρ᾽ ἀέθλων.
SOKRATES: ( we )i( being )( to-by-for )you,
ἐγώ σοι,
ADEIMANTOS: ( in a language )
we are learning as we go along,
( we hear the air crackling )
with some almighty agreements,
with some almighty friends,
MEDEIS: but now all of( she- )this
( o dyad-god )( she was binding )( bind, you )
( god-needed-bound )( she was in-need )( need, you )
( the dyad-god )( indeed )must( be )
( will be )( is )accomplished,
τὰ δὲ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.
ADEIMANTOS: as the dog hears too,
PINDAR: but( of )guest-friends( XENION )
( strangers, hosts, foreigners )doing( FARING )WELL,
GOOD( brave, stout, faithful, well-bred )( men )
WAG the TAIL( show joyful-delight and fondness )
( fawn-upon )( pay-court-to )( greet )( gladden )
FORTHWITH( at once )( immediately )( on the spot )
( o drinker, take a drink! )
toward( the )SWEET( fresh, pleasant, deligtful )
MESSAGE( tidings-news-report-announcement-
messenger ),
ξείνων δ᾽ εὖ πρασσόντων ἔσαναν αὐτίκ᾽ ἀγγελίαν
ποτὶ γλυκεῖαν ἐσλοί.
ADEIMANTOS: whats the message, o Sokrates?
SOKRATES: ( o saying )( the saying )
( say, you! )they say( we say )
( the saying )
( the weight that falls on a mouse in a trap ),
εἶπον,
ADEIMANTOS: but whats that mousetrappy thing?
its always kind of showing up
but he leaves hooks concealed so far in
its ( unknown to almost everyone else )
its unknown even to him until
we unexpectedly stumble on the answer
( when your hand moves on paths )
when the mousetraps catch us,
MEDEIS: ( to-by-for )such clouds Zeus enwreathes
( crowns-around )( you are surrounded, enwreathed )
( the )wide( broad )sky( heavens ),
οἵοισιν νεφέεσσι περιστέφει οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν
Ζεύς,
PINDAR: but still,
[10] ἀλλ᾽,
ADEIMANTOS: as ( someone said )
who wasnt nobody,
MEDEIS: but( he )stirs up( troubles )( agitates )( throws
into disorder )( confusion )( and anarchy )( the )sea,
ἐτάραξε δὲ πόντον,
ADEIMANTOS: but hes not anarchist at all,
PINDAR: O CHILD of Kronos,
ὦ Κρόνου παῖ,
ADEIMANTOS: but not quite dyadic
enough for nobody,
MEDEIS: but( the )storm( whirl- )winds urge-on
( to-by-for )( rushing )( blowing-furiously )( of )winds of all sorts,
ἐπισπέρχουσι δ᾽ ἄελλαι
(305) παντοίων ἀνέμων.
ADEIMANTOS: yet we-being pharmakronik,
PINDAR: ( you )who( o VIPERS! )( you pour out )
( you )have-and-hold( Mount )Aetna,
ὃς Αἴτναν ἔχεις,
ADEIMANTOS: as he grabs me by
the ( horses ) heartstrings,
MEDEIS: now( to-by-for )me safe( sure, certain,
sound, alive and well )( would be )sheer
( utter )( high and steep )( lofty )( towering )destruction( ruin )( death ),
νῦν μοι σῶς αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.
ADEIMANTOS: he cant help it, he cant resist,
somebody feels like the kind of dad
such as nobody wishes he could have had,
PINDAR: ( the )WINDY( airy )( rapid-rushing )
( stirred and filled by the wind )dropping-
WEIGHT( EIPON )( mouse-trap-song )
( of )strong( mighty )( o dyad- )hundred-
( HEKATO-KEPHALAS )-headed TYPHON,
ἶπον ἀνεμόεσσαν ἑκατογκεφάλα Τυφῶνος ὀβρίμου,
ADEIMANTOS: but both of them agree
and came to celebrate our victory lap,
with-in-lap-towering,
MEDEIS: thrice blessed( the )Danaans,
τρὶς μάκαρες Δαναοὶ
PINDAR: RECEIVE( the )Olympic-conqueror !
this merry-making( REVELRY )( carousal )
( procession )( parade )( ode )
by( aid )of the GRACES( Chariton ),
Οὐλυμπιονίκαν δέκευ
Χαρίτων ἕκατι τόνδε κῶμον,
MEDEIS: and( indeed )four times!
καὶ τετράκις,
ADEIMANTOS: and somehow somebody
he captures beauty
in that old reach for glory,
PINDAR: ( this )after the LONGEST time( long-
expected )( late? NEVER! )( most enduring )
( most in-the-end )( most coming-in-due-course )LIGHT
( o light! )( of )far-and-widely-reaching-POWERFUL EXCELLENCE.
χρονιώτατον φάος εὐρυσθενέων ἀρετᾶν.
ADEIMANTOS: and if we combine them,
SOKRATES: and if such as( he )
( we )come-into-being( are born,
produced, fall due, take-place, come-
to-pass )( you ),
ἂν οἷός τε γένωμαι,
ADEIMANTOS: we have to admit
somebodys ode
( makes me forget )
about my sorrows for a minute,
PINDAR: for( it )comes( attains-to )( reaches )( the )CHARIOT
( carriages )( shelters )( harbors )( vessels )
of PSAUMIS( victor in the MULE race ),
Ψαύμιος γὰρ ἵκει [20]
ὀχέων,
ADEIMANTOS: both hold me familiar
as ( weve allowed to be traced )
some underwater lines,
MEDEIS: who perished( died )then in wide( broad )Troy,
οἳ τότ᾽ ὄλοντο
Τροίῃ
PINDAR: who, ( being )WREATHED( and crowned )
( to-by-for the )OLIVE tree( of )Pisa,
ὅς, ἐλαίᾳ στεφανωθεὶς Πισάτιδι,
ADEIMANTOS: reminders of those
with whom we used to wish
that we could coexist,
MEDEIS: bringing grace( favor, gratitude )( gratification )
( pleasure, delight )( satisfaction )( thanks )
( to-by-for )( the )sons of Atreus,
ἐν εὐρείῃ χάριν Ἀτρεΐδῃσι φέροντες.
ADEIMANTOS: ( and we try to remember )
what it feels like to be seen
and celebrated,
PINDAR: ( LET LOOSE! )( would )stir up
( to call-forth )GLORY( kudos! )
( renown )( to-by-for )Kamarina,
κῦδος ὄρσαι
σπεύδει Καμαρίνᾳ.
ADEIMANTOS: but at least hes not always going on
about hekatombs anymore,
SOKRATES: ( we )would( will )try
( attempt, endeavor, experience )
to go-through( pass-through, complete, spread-
abroad, shoot-through, pass-through-and-reach,
recount ),
πειράσομαι διελθεῖν.
ADEIMANTOS: does he realize ( there are people watching )
when he says these things? nobodys relationship
with himself ( we )is( being ) his deep flaw,
we see him
( when we want to skip to the end ),
MEDEIS: as( o dyad-god )( she was binding )( bind, you )
( god-needed-bound )( she was in-need )( need, you )
( the dyad-god )( indeed )must( be )
would( that )( we- )i( -being )at least( had )died
and( indeed )( had )( driven-to )met( my )destiny,
ὡς δὴ ἐγώ γ᾽ ὄφελον θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν
ADEIMANTOS: whereas somebody brings this feeling
of ( little fires lighting up along the way )
and then he makes them HUGE,
he speaks to stadia,
PINDAR: may( the )GOD be JOYFUL-HEARTED
( goodly-phrenes )( mirthful, merry, taking pleasure,
gracious, kind, kindly, benevolent )
( to-by-for )( their )remaining( future )( hence-
forward )( hereafter )( further )PRAYERS
( vows, wishes, aspirations );
θεὸς εὔφρων
εἴη λοιπαῖς εὐχαῖς:
ADEIMANTOS: and nobody lets us relive
our worst moments, he just offers himself
with some strangers generosity, like
MEDEIS: ( to-by-for )the day when( to-by-for )me
the greatest multitude of Trojans cast( their )brass-tipped spears
around( about )( the )slain( perished )( Achilles )son of Peleus,
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε μοι πλεῖστοι χαλκήρεα δοῦρα
(310) Τρῶες ἐπέρριψαν περὶ Πηλεΐωνι θανόντι.
ADEIMANTOS: as somebody champions thumos,
our horses shiver to hear him speak,
PINDAR: since( you are approaching- and following-
upon )( to-by-for )( the dyad-word-song )
( WE )PRAISE( tell of )( approve )( commend )
him-her( who is )EXTREMELY( DYAD-SECRETLY! )even( INDEED )
AT HAND( ready )( prepared )( at once
and without hesitation )( ready-active-zealous )
( bold )( brought to fulfilment )( eager )
( to-by-for the )EDUCATION( nourishment,
food, provisions, forage, livelihood, nurture,
rearing, generation and keeping )( of )HORSES,
ἐπεί νιν αἰνέω μάλα μὲν
τροφαῖς ἑτοῖμον ἵππων,
ADEIMANTOS: as nobody fantasizes his own death,
MEDEIS: ( to-by-for )it( we would have received
A LOT )of funeral gifts,
τῷ κ᾽ ἔλαχον κτερέων,
ADEIMANTOS: somebody reminds us of being our best,
PINDAR: and REJOICING( o rejoicing ones! )
( to-by-for )ALL-RECEIVING XENIA( guest-
friendships and stranger-hospitalities ),
χαίροντά τε ξενίαις πανδόκοις
ADEIMANTOS: as nobody fantasizes about fame,
as part of fantasizing about his death,
such as this, our problematic man,
MEDEIS: and( indeed )( we would have taken )
( the )Achaians( would have )brought me
glory( kleos - fame, rumor, report ),
καί μευ κλέος ἦγον Ἀχαιοί:
ADEIMANTOS: whereas somebody makes the city-
soul ache
with possibility,
PINDAR: and( indeed )toward CITY-LOVING PEACE
( rest, quiet, silence, stillness ),
SELF-TURNING( tetrammenon )( to-by-for )CLEAR
( pure, spotless, free )THOUGHT
( judgment, intelligence, knowing, understanding,
opinion, resolution, purpose, resolve ),
καὶ πρὸς ἁσυχίαν φιλόπολιν καθαρᾷ γνώμᾳ τετραμμένον.
ADEIMANTOS: the possibility of somebody
or something, being some city
worth dying for,
SOKRATES: this( even )( indeed )therefore( we )
( o ways, o powers of song! )suppose
( forebode, presage, expect,
suspect, intend, believe )( the )all( o all! )
will agree( same-saying )( he would agree )
( she would agree )( you will agree )
( to-by-for )we
( she-dyad-confession )( to-by-for confession-she ),
τόδε μὲν οὖν οἶμαι πᾶς ἡμῖν ὁμολογήσει,
ADEIMANTOS: ( silently ) we side with nobody
almost all the time, even
when what he says is plainly wrong,
MEDEIS: but now( it had been )fated( me )
( to be )seized( captured )( taken )( slain )
( to-by-for )( a )wretched( sorry )( pitiful )
( contemptuous )death,
νῦν δέ λευγαλέῳ θανάτῳ εἵμαρτο ἁλῶναι.
HOMER: so there-and-then( dyad-he )speaking it —
ὣς ἄρα μιν εἰπόντ᾽
PINDAR: ( WE )( would-will )NOT STAIN
( you are not stained )( wet, moisten, soften, dye )
( the )WORD( to-by-for )FALSEHOOD,
οὐ ψεύδεϊ τέγξω λόγον: [30]
ADEIMANTOS: ( breathe ) we remind myself
as we realize what we witness,
HOMER: ( the )GREAT WAVE( billowing, swelling,
heaving, flood )( PREGNANCY-fetus-sprout )DROVE-
( propelled-thrusted-struck )-DOWN( against-
through )( from the )HIGHEST( topmost-extremity
)( a )TERRIBLE( dreadful, wondrous, awful,
clever )RUSHING-( hastening,
speeding )-against,
ἔλασεν μέγα κῦμα κατ᾽ ἄκρης
δεινὸν ἐπεσσύμενον,
ADEIMANTOS: somebody versus nobody
would ignite
to tame the tempest,
PINDAR: ( o )SHE-TRIAL( we drive-through )( the crucial
experiment )( trial )( proof )( perseverance )
( to-by-for )YOU( let me tell you )( would be )
( the )ELENCHOS( argument )( disproof,
refutation, cross-examination, testing,
scrutiny, trial, reproach, blame,
etc )( of )MORTAL MEN,
διάπειρά τοι βροτῶν ἔλεγχος:
ADEIMANTOS: what does nobody fight for,
his craft?
HOMER: but( it )WHIRLED( he raised the battle-cry )
( he raised a lament )( he cried loudly )AROUND
( about )( the SHE- )raft( hand-to-hand )
( in close combat ),
περὶ δὲ σχεδίην ἐλέλιξε.
ADEIMANTOS: and somebody for what,
the reinstatement of whats right?
PINDAR: ( the )SHE-DYAD( who )UNBOUND
( unfastened, unyoked, released, delivered,
resolved, destroyed, annulled )the CHILD
( Erginos? )of Klumenos from( the )DISHONOR
( disgrace )( derision )( deprivation
of civil rights )( of the )Lemnian women,
ἅπερ Κλυμένοιο παῖδα
Λαμνιάδων γυναικῶν ἔλυσεν ἐξ ἀτιμίας.
ADEIMANTOS: so different, yet
we are burning with them both,
and ( soon we are wildfire ) listening
to their voices in myself resolving,
SOKRATES: such( a )nature( growth-origin,
outward-form, constitution-temperament,
character, originating-power, elementary-
substance, birth )and( indeed )
she-having-and-holding( he-)all as much
( she-dyad )as we enjoined( commanded,
prescribed, posted, appointed )just-now,
τοιαύτην φύσιν καὶ πάντα ἔχουσαν ὅσα προσετάξαμεν νυνδή,
ADEIMANTOS: ( and then the moment is over )
and nobody loses, but he does it to himself,
HOMER: but FAR-off from( the SHE- )raft
( close-quarters )( hand-to-hand combat )( spur
of the moment )( he- )HIMSELF hurled
( let fall, self-threw )( lost the erect position )
( fell in battle )( SUNK ),
(315) τῆλε δ᾽ ἀπὸ σχεδίης αὐτὸς πέσε,
ADEIMANTOS: whereas theres something
strong-humble, humbling, common-strong,
about somebody, a peoples man,
PINDAR: but CONQUERING( winning )
( the )race( COURSE )( of victories )
in bronze( copper coins )armor,
χαλκέοισι δ᾽ ἐν ἔντεσι νικῶν δρόμον
ADEIMANTOS: then again,
what wouldnt nobody sacrifice
of his own self?
HOMER: but( it )sent-forth( threw-hurled-launched-
let-fly )( let fall a word )( uttered in speech )
( let go )( surrendered )( the )rudder out( from his )hands,
πηδάλιον δὲ
ἐκ χειρῶν προέηκε:
ADEIMANTOS: and indeed,
PINDAR: ( he )said( to-by-for )Hupsipule( high-and-lofty passage ),
ἔειπεν Ὑψιπυλείᾳ
ADEIMANTOS: high versus middle?
HOMER: but( the )MIDDLE( to-by-for)itself
( of the )MAST — broke( shivered )
( the SHE- )terrible( fearsome, marvelous,
clever, wondrous )( of )mixing winds
( she )coming( -and-going )HURRICANE,
μέσον δέ οἱ ἱστὸν ἔαξεν
δεινὴ μισγομένων ἀνέμων ἐλθοῦσα θύελλα,
ADEIMANTOS: o high versus middle
versus the HURRICANE they create,
PINDAR: after going( and coming )
( to the )GARLAND( crown )( wreath ),
μετὰ στέφανον ἰών:
ADEIMANTOS: the one they live for,
HOMER: but FAR-OFF( we were SOWING )
( they were sowing )( sow, you )( o sowing )
( sowing )( the sowing )( the )sail( clothing )
( wraps )( shroud )and( indeed )( the )yard-arm
( were )flung-into( FALL, you )( ENTER into )
( come upon )( STRIKE )( the )SEA,
τηλοῦ δὲ σπεῖρον καὶ ἐπίκριον ἔμπεσε πόντῳ.
ADEIMANTOS: if ( a sense of security )
maybe ( we tell myself ) would
call nobody home,
SOKRATES: if finally( having reached its end,
finished, complete, perfect, full-grown,
accomplished thoroughly, and )about to become
( be born, come-into-being )
philosophos( wisdom-love ),
εἰ τελέως (491β) μέλλοι φιλόσοφος γενέσθαι,
ADEIMANTOS: ( until next time ) something
nobody-like slips out,
HOMER: but there-and-then UNDERWATER( she )put him,
( for a )LONGGG time,
τὸν δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὑπόβρυχα θῆκε πολὺν χρόνον,
ADEIMANTOS: she-being a strong
container for nobodys ways,
HUPSIPULE: this( WE )i( BEING )( to-by-for )SWIFTNESS( quickness )( speed ),
‘ οὗτος ἐγὼ ταχυτᾶτι:
ADEIMANTOS: but neither is nobody spotless
nor is the poet altogether so,
it may be ( by something small )
but it irks me how they blame her,
she-being Kalupso,
HOMER: nor( was he )able very( dyad-underwater-
secretly )quickly( to )hold-up( lift-up, surface )
( from )under( the )great wave( swelling-
billowing-surge )( pregnancy )( of )( the SHE- )ATTACK;
for( the )clothes there-and-then( were )OPPRESSING
( and depressing )( him ),
the( SHE-DYAD )( to-by-for )itself( o passage!
o resource! )( she )GAVE( give, you! )
through( we would-will HIDE and CONCEAL )
( you hide and cover )Kalupso,
οὐδ᾽ ἐδυνάσθη
(320) αἶψα μάλ᾽ ἀνσχεθέειν μεγάλου ὑπὸ κύματος ὁρμῆς:
εἵματα γάρ ῥ᾽ ἐβάρυνε, τά οἱ πόρε δῖα Καλυψώ.
ADEIMANTOS: but even nobody
with his actions says ( fuck the end goal ),
HOMER: but after a longgg time( LATE? )( NEVER )
( o dyad-god )( she was binding )( bind, you )( god-needed-
bound )( she was in-need )( need, you )
( the dyad-god )( indeed )must( be )
there-and-then( he )came up,
ὀψὲ δὲ δή ῥ᾽ ἀνέδυ,
ADEIMANTOS: but when she delivers his medicine,
HUPSIPULE: but HANDS and( indeed )HEART( being )EQUAL( evenly )( alike ),
χεῖρες δὲ καὶ ἦτορ ἴσον.
ADEIMANTOS: he spits it out,
and again the poet takes his side,
( shewaters a lil preachy for them? )
HOMER: but( from her )mouth( she )SPIT-OUT
( the )( SHE- )bitter( sharp, keen, piercing, acute,
pungent, mean! )( SHE- )sea-water( BRINE ),
( she )which( to-by-for )itself( she- )much
from( the she- )head( was )gushing( gurgling,
murmuring, babbling, trickling, flowing fitfully, or in drops . . . )
στόματος δ᾽ ἐξέπτυσεν ἅλμην
πικρήν, ἥ οἱ πολλὴ ἀπὸ κρατὸς κελάρυζεν.
ADEIMANTOS: to walk the slight edge
between nobody, and somebody,
( we-being HUPSIPULE ) and the poet too,
showing-through the best of each,
SOKRATES: rarely( oligakis-slightly )born
among human beings
( to grow, wax, spring-up, spring-forth,
begotten, produced ),
and(indeed)oligas(very-slight-few),
ὀλιγάκις ἐν ἀνθρώποις φύεσθαι καὶ ὀλίγας.
HUPSIPULE: but( it )GROWS,
[40] φύονται δὲ
ADEIMANTOS: but she has nature
and he has his memory ( of her ),
HOMER: but still not even like( he was )forgetting
( the she- )raft( hand-to-hand )( close combat ),
roundly wearing-out( distressed, afflicted, exhausted,
born-hard-upon, reduced to extremity,
being-rubbed-hard, with troubles ),
ἀλλ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ὣς σχεδίης ἐπελήθετο, τειρόμενός περ,
ADEIMANTOS: and having been accustomed
to going and coming between them,
as butterfly men, even just for fun,
even with our ( eyes closed ),
HUPSIPULE: and( indeed )( you would swim )
( you would spin )( you would pile up )
( in heaps )( and for next year ),
SHE-GRAYNESS( gray-grizzled-grizlies )
( of hair )OFTEN( grows )in YOUNG MEN,
καὶ νέοις ἐν ἀνδράσιν
πολιαὶ θαμὰ
ADEIMANTOS: and doesnt he have a habit
of providing commentary
( often in the form of a question )
( we werent going to ask for ) ?
to which we reply ( enjoy the journey ),
SOKRATES: ( either )or( else-otherwise )( eh! )( do )nt( you )suppose?
ἢ οὐκ οἴει;
ADEIMANTOS: and even in her ( fighting sleep )
( like neither nobody nor somebody )
she-being constant revolutionary,
HUPSIPULE: and( indeed )beside( towards )( contrary
to )( against )( beyond )that
( of the )AGE( time of life )( generation )( prime ),
καὶ παρὰ τὸν ἁλικίας
ADEIMANTOS: but ( given ) that nobody
makes an excellent lover,
HOMER: but still rushing-in-pursuit( making a dash )
( passively )in-through( the )waves( billowing-
swelling-pregnancies )( he )received( took hold )( of )herself,
(325) ἀλλὰ μεθορμηθεὶς ἐνὶ κύμασιν ἐλλάβετ᾽ αὐτῆς,
ADEIMANTOS: but when it comes to problems
where we might say ( a good sleep wont fix this )
( anything other than a tempest-tantrum ),
his response seems pretty strong,
HOMER: but in( her )middle( he )sat( and huddled- )down,
ἐν μέσσῃ δὲ καθῖζε
HUPSIPULE: ( contrary to what at )( the )TIME seeming-likely,
ἐοικότα χρόνον.’
ADEIMANTOS: nobody survives,
HOMER: avoiding deaths end,
τέλος θανάτου ἀλεείνων.
ADEIMANTOS: yet hes also like a baby,
who always wants back into the storm,
who just likes getting spun around.
nobody may not be a place to live,
but its his energy that drives us on,
when were on the move.
//
from hymn to Apollo
Republic VI
Odyssey V.299-326, XI.613-626
Pindar Olympian 4
VIII.xx. silken-light ( good at math ) heart-music
ADEIMANTOS: and our serious work
would be to keep her safe,
SOKRATES: as( she is )utterly destroyed in many,
ὡς διόλλυται ἐν πολλοῖς,
ADEIMANTOS: evidently.
but as ( youre in bed already )
our dreaming seems an active sleep
( to determine compatibility )
( singles inferno for meta-poetic we )
then does it end with you and me?
SOKRATES: but something( someone )small escapes
( acquitted, out, you flee ),
σμικρὸν δέ τι ἐκφεύγει,
ADEIMANTOS: by pollination or some kind of aerial seed,
( we guess its how these shes grew me )
or they could be the ( simple formulas )
for our calculator. she makes a kind of logic
( but we try not to hurry ) in order to find,
SOKRATES: ( those )which
( o dyad-god )( she was binding )( bind, you )
( god-needed-bound )( she was in-need )( need, you )
( the dyad-god )( indeed )must( be ),
οὓς δὴ
ADEIMANTOS: she being who it looks like
as intelligence withdraws from arms races.
so youd better believe she treats herself well,
( herself given manicures and pedicures,
herself taken crystal baths in pastel oceans,
wherein her pearlescent bubbles ) the foam
has ample time ( the sea ) ( we-are-beingly ) really
( the measure of her own motion )
( we-time ) o-clock,
herself-care,
SOKRATES: and( indeed )not useless
( toilsome, grievous, toxic, malicious,
good-for-nothing waste ),
καὶ οὐ πονηρούς,
ADEIMANTOS: ( but no outcome we form )
apart from this-me born ( to-by-for ) her
( to caress every curve ) her goddess curves
( Hera, Gaia, all of hers ) apart from Zeus.
and our service ( to-by-for ) unserviceable she,
SOKRATES: but( they beauty- )call
( they will beauty-call )( to-by-for )( beauty-callings )
useless( unprofitable, unserviceable,
irrelevant, obsolete ),
ἀχρήστους δὲ καλοῦσι:
ADEIMANTOS: and indeed ( we are in my favour )
wearing only ( the sweet scent of raspberry )
( ylang-ylang, vanilla, lavender & patchouli )
( torn basil and tomato and thyme )
( oops was getting hungry )
what more could you want than that?
SOKRATES: and( indeed )after that
back again( bow wow )
the( shes )imitating( representing, portraying,
mimicking, expressing )this( she ),
καὶ μετὰ (491α) τοῦτο αὖ τὰς μιμουμένας ταύτην
ADEIMANTOS: and indeed this-she ( holds
the memory of summer ) somehow
in her animal sounds, as by the dog,
the butterfly, et cetera
( but then again ) what more?
SOKRATES: and( indeed )establishing( setting-down,
instituting )( themselves )( in )the pursuit
( business-practice-custom )( of )herself,
καὶ εἰς τὸ ἐπιτήδευμα καθισταμένας αὐτῆς,
ADEIMANTOS: and if we would ever be
at home ( on my skin ) then how?
SOKRATES: ( of )what sorts( of o )natures
( growths, births, origins )we-being
( to-by-for o )we-being
( you blow and puff )( you would-will bring-forth )
( you would-will flee, escape, fly )( of cool )
( contemplating through the cool of night )souls
( living beings, spirits, ghosts, selves, sources-of-life ),
( o refreshing in the shade )( refreshing )( the refreshing
in the shade )( o making-alive )( making-alive )
( they were making-alive )( we are making-alive )
( to make-alive )( the making-alive ),
οἷαι οὖσαι φύσεις ψυχῶν
ADEIMANTOS: and indeed she being ( silken ) ( and slippery )
and too ( alive ) too ( femme ) for hands to grasp.
from that mistrial, which theys would conclude
( hint - ) ( not the most measured ones )
we never were good at math?
SOKRATES: and( indeed )( who )( arriving-at,
coming-to, approaching )( a )pursuit( business-
practice )in( the )not( held as )worthy( of )
( and )( lordly-kingly )( and )larger
( greater )than them( he-she-it )selves,
εἰς ἀνάξιον καὶ μεῖζον ἑαυτῶν ἀφικνούμεναι ἐπιτήδευμα,
ADEIMANTOS: ( yet ) ( he practices letting her approach him )
so in these ( there is a lightness ) like laughter,
these letting-go, these letting-play, these letting-be,
( as we dive under blankets ) to express her-
SOKRATES: ( shes who )in-many-ways( would
be )( in error )making-false-notes
( offending music ),
πολλαχῇ πλημμελοῦσαι,
ADEIMANTOS: yet still shes cool ( cool as the river ravine,
yet shes who will in many ways say, whoopsie,
yet her parts she be concealing from herself.
yet when we exhale ) and you breathe me in
( our currents would make music ) under my skin,
( as she would balance ) ( to-by-for ) her warming heart.
//
from hymn to Apollo
Odyssey XI.613-626
Republic VI
VIII.xix. beyond the frame ( wrong direction ) of the butterfly sanctuary
( beyond the frame + wrong direction + unfin + good at math )
ADEIMANTOS: O beloved Sokrates, remind me again.
what was my purpose?
SOKRATES: her-remembrance,
μνήμη:
ADEIMANTOS: for whom ( we brace myself ),
SOKRATES: and( indeed )of your laying( self )hold,
καὶ σοῦ ἐπιλαβομένου
ADEIMANTOS: she for whom ( we travel
in the wrong direction ) from myself,
as if we could insist
SOKRATES: that( even the )all( o all )will be( forced )
compelled to agree-with( same-saying )
( to-by-for )( that )which( we )were saying,
ὅτι πᾶς μὲν ἀναγκασθήσεται (490δ) ὁμολογεῖν οἷς λέγομεν,
ADEIMANTOS: but ( the distance between us greater ) grows
when we harden ( for the question
that never comes ),
SOKRATES: but( when )letting-be( suffering, permitting,
giving-up, letting-alone, letting-lie, and letting-go )
( you let-go )( o he-letting-go )( her-letting-go )the words
( speeches-accounts-reckonings-relations-correspondences-
proportions-explanations-arguments-thinkings-reasonings-
reflections-narratives-rumors-discussions-debates-
deliberations-dialogues-utterances-oracles-
assertions-expressions-grounds ),
ἐάσας δὲ τοὺς λόγους,
ADEIMANTOS: we put my finger in the cup
( and find out the answer )
regardless of my will
( yet we feel closer to you )
yet closer to whom?
SOKRATES: ( o )looking-steadfastly( paying-attention )
( look-steadfastly, you, in- )to the( him )selves
around( about )the( one-he )logos( speech-account-relation )of them,
εἰς αὐτοὺς ἀποβλέψας περὶ ὧν ὁ λόγος,
ADEIMANTOS: and unsure which self would be him,
what if ( we are shaped like a question )
and we would supply familiar features
( in this place of unfamiliar faces )
for him to recognize himself?
SOKRATES: ( he )would say( the grey would affirm )
to see of selves( on the one hand )
the useless( unprofitable, unservicable )( ones),
φαίη ὁρᾶν αὐτῶν τοὺς μὲν ἀχρήστους,
ADEIMANTOS: and what a time wed have
in contemplation of our uselessness.
but ( what if we want your mind )
do we mean my mind or whose?
( where we can be anyone )
and even hims of sundry use?
SOKRATES: but( on the other hand )( to see if )
the many evil( bad-uglies )
( would be )( she )whole-evil( bad-ugly-shame ),
( they sprinkle )( o sprinkling )( barley-groats
on medicinal wine )( the sprinkling )( the sprinklings ),
τοὺς δὲ πολλοὺς κακοὺς πᾶσαν κακίαν,
ADEIMANTOS: and ( wandering ) around my dreams,
my imagination, my day-to-day,
we might put ( sprinkles! )
on ( anything ) thats thrown-across
or -through ( dia - ballein ),
SOKRATES: ( we, o )looking-upon( inspecting, observing,
carefully, taking-care, visiting, like visiting the sick,
considering, reflecting, meditating on )the cause
( of )the slander( thrown-through )( false-accusation-
prejudice-against ),
upon this( he-it )now( we have become )been born,
τῆς διαβολῆς τὴν αἰτίαν ἐπισκοποῦντες ἐπὶ τούτῳ νῦν γεγόναμεν,
ADEIMANTOS: upon . . . this-which ? o,
this one ( he-it ) who comes and goes
( here on my bare thighs ) ( guilty as charged )
leaving butterfly ( pòò ) like
love letters to the nectarine,
SOKRATES: ( who, which, what )why
( o drinkers, o longing ones, o yearning ones,
are you flying hither-thither,
o wine-tasting-drinking )( would be )
the many( o the many )bads
( evils-uglies-sicknesses-shames ) ( ? )
τί ποθ᾽ οἱ πολλοὶ κακοί,
ADEIMANTOS: maybe when we come and go
to that place ( where your hands cant be )
( and take a sip ) and leave a sign
thats when ( we feel closer to you ),
and closer to her whom we remember,
SOKRATES: and( indeed )on account of this —
( o dyad-god )( it was binding )( bind, you )
( god-needed-bound )( it was in-need )( need, you )
( the dyad-god )( indeed )must( be ) —
back again weve taken-up the nature( growth-origin )
of the truly( unconcealedly )wisdom-lovers,
καὶ τούτου δὴ ἕνεκα πάλιν ἀνειλήφαμεν
τὴν τῶν ἀληθῶς φιλοσόφων φύσιν
ADEIMANTOS: like the butterfly men,
those ( hes ) who come and go to such as these,
and drinking nectar where my feet cant go.
and ( what if we want your mind ) also
( as the mind of me or any he ) wandering
around the outermost-edges, where experience
and even ( words escape me ),
SOKRATES: and( indeed )we defined( a boundary,
determining and laying out, our horizon )out-of necessity,
καὶ ἐξ ἀνάγκης ὡρισάμεθα.(490ε)
HERA: hear( of )me now, o Earths( Gaia )
and( indeed )the Sky( Ouranos )broad-from-above,
and o Titan gods, dwelling( to-by-for )you under-
earth( chthon ), around mighty Tartaros,
out-of-whom( be )men and gods,
κέκλυτε νῦν μευ, Γαῖα καὶ Οὐρανὸς εὐρὺς ὕπερθεν
Τιτῆνές τε θεοί, τοὶ ὑπὸ χθονὶ ναιετάοντες
Τάρταρον ἀμφὶ μέγαν, τῶν ἒξ ἄνδρες τε θεοί τε:
SAILORS: ( we )is( are ) ( ! )
ἔστιν,
SOKRATES: so we hypothesize our whole.
( but we cant escape sleep ) together,
which leaves me ( wondering ) about you,
SAILORS: he was saying,
ἔφη,
SOKRATES: but knowing that neither do we know
( what the palm of your hand ) would have-and-hold,
for whom ( these lines will remain ) as parts,
SAILORS: these(shes),
ταῦτα.
SOKRATES: nor do we know what you ( will find
beyond the frame ) of my lived experience,
thats why these-shes we make would be
un-we ( unfin ) until finished by her-yous,
HERA: ( o )all selves, now hear me, and( indeed )give
( of me a )child
apart( away, aloof )from Zeus,
αὐτοὶ νῦν μευ πάντες ἀκούσατε καὶ δότε παῖδα
νόσφι Διός,
SOKRATES: of this-she
( o dyad-god )( she was binding)( bind, you )
( god-needed-bound )( she was in-need )
( need, you )( the dyad-god )( indeed )must( be ),
ταύτης δή,
ADEIMANTOS: fully dyadic ( goddess ) poetry . . .
( using the golden calculator we become )
the calculator we turn me into?
( we calculate probabilities ) and then . . .
would ( we brace myself ) around
open meadows of indeterminacy?
SOKRATES: but( if )( they are )( he is )
( we are )saying( we )ego( being ),
ἦν δ᾽ ἐγώ,
ADEIMANTOS: we being free to grow and move
until ( possibilities whirlpool in my head )
as her primordial stew of productivity . . .
but would that mean ( the question never comes ),
SOKRATES: of the( she-nature )( growth-birth-
origin-form-character-substance-dyad )
( it was binding )( it was needful )
( need, you )( bind, you )
must be,
to observe( behold, gaze-at, contemplate )
the destructions( ruins, passings-away, deaths,
corruptions )( of )the( she )nature,
τῆς φύσεως δεῖ θεάσασθαι τὰς φθοράς,
ADEIMANTOS: so not as question, but as necessity . . .
on the one hand ( we answer it anyway ),
as witness to his scatological remains,
as dipped fingers in my pudding cup ( amen ),
risking but slight redness to my dainty skin,
as follies, soap operas, unicorn-porn, born
with ( sprinkles! ) blizzarded-in from you and you,
like cookies starry night with richest cream,
to tempt and tame the little butterbeasts
until the airs astir with fluttering wings,
in-palms-holding his heartbeats memory,
perchance, before releasing me unto herself —
o glorious pollination! or on the other hand,
where re-enactment might make her unsafe,
( we list characteristics ) as for cased specimens:
the Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae,
Lycaenidae, Hesperiidae of her corruptions.
and every butterfly would be a mask —
our temple-dwelling her sanctuary inviolable.
//
from hymn to Apollo
Odyssey XI.613-626
Republic VI
VIII.xvi-xviii. towering ( paws - shared air - on this road - connect us ) in my lap
xvi. paws ( shared air ) ( lap )
ADEIMANTOS: we dont want to be around anymore
MEDEIS: so( she )spoke, ( to-by-for )( hes spoking ),
( o angering )( death, she )angering-
in-heart( doom )( giving-way, was )going
( go, you )( shining, running, flying )away,
apart-from( aloof )( without )gods( goddesses )( seeings )
( o heart-beholding )( they were gazing-at )
( in-heart-beholding )( we were gazing-at )
( the beholding-heart )( to-by-for him-spoking ),
ὣς εἰποῦσ᾽ ἀπὸ νόσφι θεῶν κίε χωομένη κῆρ.
ADEIMANTOS: its too much, cant see or hear at all
( keep those paws tight on me ) scratches myself
( and the tenderness ) my forte
aint loud
SOKRATES: ( with )truth( unconcealing )going-before
( leading-the-way, guiding, conducting, commanding,
ruling, believing, holding )( o dyad-god )( it was binding )
( bind, you )( the god )( it was in-need )( need, you )
( the dyad-god )( indeed )must( be )
( the guiding-unconcealing-truth ),
ἡγουμένης δὴ ἀληθείας
ADEIMANTOS: ( dont let go ) tells myself
( of shared air ) listening even
in emptiness
not other-blame
whatever
nevermind
me you cant see
( moons you all )
SOKRATES: we( o song-poems )wouldnt ever( even drunk )suppose
( we )say( affirm, that )( a )chorus( dance )of evils
( illness-shame )follows( and accompanies )
( you have been following )( follow, you! )
her( unconcealing )self,
οὐκ ἄν ποτε οἶμαι φαμὲν αὐτῇ χορὸν κακῶν ἀκολουθῆσαι.
ADEIMANTOS: ( dont you dare ) gives up on me
( your head on my lap ) needs a break
( flying to me ) speaks me directly
MEDEIS: at once( thereupon )ox-eyed lady-mistress Hera
was( present )upon( approached, drew near, came-to,
overtook, came-after, remained-over-and-above )
( she was in )love( desire )( she was pouring-
forth, vomiting )( praying-to),
αὐτίκ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ ἠρᾶτο βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη,
ADEIMANTOS: o . . .
nevertheless ( we might float away )
if we dont anchor you with something ( heavy )
to keep you here ( as you drift off to sleep )
( it better be tall, boy . . . )
//
xvii. on this road ( lap ) ( towering )
ADEIMANTOS: ( this-me not here )
SAILORS: for, how?
πῶς γάρ;
ADEIMANTOS: ( just a little stumble ) reassures what
( my hand gently in your hair )
( . . . )
HERAKLES: nevertheless( we were having, they )were having-
and-holding boundless( immense-infinite )woe( misery-
pain );
αὐτὰρ ὀιζὺν
εἶχον ἀπειρεσίην:
ADEIMANTOS: ( not a complete fall ) maybe
tripped over the leash tied ( on your neck )
some pinkness rising ( on your cheek )
he beauty-calls me towering
( drill baby drill )
SOKRATES: but still( a )healthy( sound )( ethos ),
ἀλλ᾽ ὑγιές
ADEIMANTOS: and indeed ( not a reason to stop )
you trust ( we smile but you dont see )
( drillings invisible ) seeking
that harmony
SOKRATES: and( indeed, a )just( justice )ethos( accustomed-
dwelling, disposition, character, growth-habit ),
τε καὶ δίκαιον ἦθος,
ADEIMANTOS: if hurt its ( just a tiny bump )
( but the tenderness ) the backwards-talk
between myself and me
SOKRATES: following( pursuing )which indeed( turns
into )sophrosune( sound-mindedness,
moderation, self-rule ),
ᾧ καὶ σωφροσύνην ἕπεσθαι,
ADEIMANTOS: ( on the road were on )
( you cant help but feel ) taller
and conquered repeatedly
HERAKLES: for( very-dyad-secret-much )we had been overpowered
( tamed, broken-in, made-subject-to, conquered, as-dead )
( and built )( to-by-for a )meaner( lowlier- worse )( daylight- )man,
μάλα γὰρ πολὺ χείρονι φωτὶ
δεδμήμην,
ADEIMANTOS: ( the road well stay on ) you cant help
but feel your ( knees buckling )
back-bending
SAILORS: straightly,
ὀρθῶς,
SOKRATES: ( this time well stay ) together,
even through the ( falling ),
SAILORS: (he)was saying,
ἔφη.
SOKRATES: towering ( on this road ) together,
all the way through the ( falling )
down
down
down
//
xviii. connect us ( towering )
ADEIMANTOS: monster
MEDEIS: but( o down-turned-dyad )( to-by-for )down-turned-
hand( o glove ), ( she )drove( struck! )( dyad-down-
turned )earth, and(indeed)was speaking(spoke)
( the )story( muthos )word;
χειρὶ καταπρηνεῖ δ᾽ ἔλασε χθόνα καὶ φάτο μῦθον:
ADEIMANTOS: and ( connecting the dots )
to keep myself together ( in spirals tumbling )
( dots bearing witness ),
SOKRATES: and( indeed )( o dyad-god )( it was binding )
( bind, you )( bound-god )( it was in-need )( need, you )
( the dyad-god )( indeed )must( be ),
the other chorus( dance )( of the )nature( growth-origin
of )the wisdom-lover( chorus-dance )( other ),
καὶ δὴ τὸν ἄλλον τῆς φιλοσόφου φύσεως χορὸν
ADEIMANTOS: ( the dots connect us ) well
figuratively
( then a giggle escaping ) because
its me,
( tumbling )
SOKRATES: ( are we-being in )some need( was it binding-to )( does it bind )
( are you bound )( bind, you )( was it needing-of )
( does it need )( are you in-need )( need, you )( to-by-for god ),
( to go )backwards( again )from( the )beginning( origin-principle-rule ),
( o )bindings( compelling-constraining-forcing )( us )
to draw-( she-dyad-manliness )-up ( up up up ) —
( in order, post, station, form, array, as for battle,
lay-down a rule, ordain, prescribe,
assess, impose )( the bindings )?
τί δεῖ πάλιν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἀναγκάζοντα τάττειν;
ADEIMANTOS: remembering ( barely )
to show ourselves ( in more . . ) . harmony
which could have a ( positive influence ) like
( remember those tumblers in the middle
of his shield? ) any little trr
SOKRATES: for( you )have remembered somehow
that( she-dyad-manliness )came-in-agreement-together
( we were belonging )( they were belonging )
belonging( to-by-for )these
she-dyad-manliness( en-courage-dyad ),
μέμνησαι γάρ που ὅτι συνέβη προσῆκον τούτοις ἀνδρεία,
ADEIMANTOS: to do it in . . ( . .. ways ) . . . ( not tiny )
( to the hard of hearing, Flannery sharply scratched,
you shout, and for the almost blind, you draw
large and startling figures ) we-being
a realist of ( our ) distances,
SOKRATES: ( she-dyad )magnificence,
μεγαλοπρέπεια,
ADEIMANTOS: with hands softer ( than. . . …. . ) . . the springs
( not even e. e. cummings hands )
( but hulking ) and smashing and bashing — himself
wanting ( needing-binding ) to show ( to feel )
the way she feels,
SOKRATES: ( she )learning-well,
εὐμάθεια,
ADEIMANTOS: even until he forgets himself
( everything that goes down rises upside-down )
( Rabelais ) ( Baudelaire ) . . . ( Tartuffe ) ( Alceste )
( tous les philosophes grotesques ) and hes
all for the sake of . . . ( … .. .one )
( towering )
purpose
. . .
. .
.
//
from hymn to Apollo
Odyssey XI.613-626
Republic VI
🌕
VIII.xiv. ( the ) hunger ( head full ) of butterfly men
ADEIMANTOS: grrr sometimes really tired
of being him. ( we still like pink but feel like
were not allowed to like pink anymore? )
( just kidding ) ( we are allowed ) ( but
how are we-being to demonstrate
our struggle against we-being?
aside from we-saying things like
“wrong direction” no “right direction” no
or saying “towering” or “exactly right”
or maybe “this direction and none other”
of course arguing about directions )
SOKRATES: and( he )wouldnt remain( tarry )upon
( to-by-for )each( of )the many suppositions
( conjectures-opinions )
( we-are )to-be( we-being )( etc ),
καὶ οὐκ (490β) ἐπιμένοι ἐπὶ τοῖς δοξαζομένοις εἶναι πολλοῖς ἑκάστοις,
ADEIMANTOS: oops i fail.
( i feel manhood beginning with oops i fail. )
( we-being-supposed-to-towering now,
always on another banana peel, and
the future-present is our peanut gallery.
if towering or hanged, id rather hang.
but o my serious friend. let us consult
my other-me to find out more. hows a man?
her-he says ) the hunger for something.
( so if we see the ) fluttering wings of a butterfly
and we feel hungry, as men do,
( we catch it in a net and pin it under glass.
wings! we can fly now. right? no. )
SOKRATES: but still( he )would go( and come ),
ἀλλ᾽ ἴοι
ADEIMANTOS: ( and indeed ) ( hes a butterfly sir.
a butterfly-he comes and goes to ) tiny blooms of something.
( when he drinks, it makes him feel ) in
a pleasurable way ( and then he wants more.
but desire for sweetness isnt quite erotic. eros
presents structure and progress. its not always )
huge and different ( but its never-enough in ways )
that can change the kind man ( we are. )
SOKRATES: and( indeed )wouldnt( become dull )lose the edge,
nor would( he )leave-off, of( his erotic )love,
καὶ οὐκ ἀμβλύνοιτο
οὐδ᾽ ἀπολήγοι τοῦ ἔρωτος,
ADEIMANTOS: ( until a certain nectar ) with an intoxicating scent
( helps us partake of we-being. which is to say, it helps us
partake more of what we are. we-nectar has crazy power.
by which we change into different kinds
of men. with different perspectives on the world )
and hugely different ( priorities or limitations or
motivations ) what are our ends? ( do we all hunger
for something different? do we all hunger
for the world? are we all towering?
our butterfly-man hungers for
what the hunger is for. )
SOKRATES: until each-and-every himself ( we )is( are ) he,
( until each-and(-every ( he ( we are ) is ) self ) ),
πρὶν αὐτοῦ ὃ ἔστιν ἑκάστου
ADEIMANTOS: ( not every man is a butterfly man.
butterfly men taste all the nectar, until
they become each and every man himself.
as each and every me becoming blind
or numb to we-being, each in our own ways,
like being towering or being hanged, or fools,
or magi, it seems, and other things, kings,
and we-being indeed can feel like pain.
but we-men also can feel a kind of we-pleasure
that ) bursts out in small portions. ( differrent men
might describe we-pleasure in different ways,
but a butterfly man likens the sensation
of we-being to ) berries and cream.
SOKRATES: of the nature( growth-origin )( of )soul( source-life )
( you will refresh yourself in the shade )( you breathe,
you blow, you make cool, cold, refresh )
to fasten( bind-attain-engage-spark-kindle )
( to-by-for that )which( comes-to )belongs-to( through-
being-related-to )( you belong )( fitting-
as-relations )( of soul )( of nature ),
τῆς φύσεως ἅψασθαι ᾧ προσήκει ψυχῆς
ADEIMANTOS: ( as a butterfly man, we ) start new hobbies
( and change our names to try on different men.
we also experiment with we-being-enhancing drugs )
and fingertips fitting into dimples ( as other-me
describes ) ( being daimonic ) ( an animal friend )
( today we think of babies ) ( which we like )
( we have nothing against babies )
( o me the baby ) ( cutie pie )
( but we dont need a baby )
SOKRATES: to bind-on( make-fast, lay-hold, partake,
to touch, pass-through, lay-claim,
attain-to, apply-itself-to, possessing )
the( such as )this —
ἐφάπτεσθαι τοῦ τοιούτου —
ADEIMANTOS: ( tragic men ),
MEDEIS: and( indeed )( he )moaning( wailing, moaning,
lamenting, with tears )( me ), o epic-winged-word-songs
( he )was speaking-through( to-by-for )me,
καί μ᾽ ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:
ADEIMANTOS: ( animal men ),
SOKRATES: but( dyad-inborn-relation, kinship, descent )
comes-to( belongs-to )( through-being-related-to )
( but you belong )
( to dyad-inborn-relation, kinship, descent )
( to-for-by )inborn-relation —
προσήκει δὲ συγγενεῖ —
ADEIMANTOS: ( comic men ),
HERAKLES: o sprung-from-god son-of-Laertes, poly-
mechanos(of many-devices, arts, resources, crafts, means,
machines)Odysseus,
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν᾽ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
ADEIMANTOS: ( we belong through being related-
to these men of poetry ),
SOKRATES: ( to-by-for )which( o drawing-near )
( you associate, bring near, draw-near, approach )
( bringing-near )( she-they-will-be-bringing-near )
( of her bringing-near ),
ᾧ πλησιάσας
ADEIMANTOS: ( and as butterfly men we ) learn new skills
( to muscle-up all of our here-born relations )
( and to become all that we can with
the help of our lyrically ambitious family.
we translate three amazing men at least.
we expect they shall teach us manly things.
we already know how to say “i”, how to cut
and paste words, how to braid words, how
to have witchcraft done to us through words,
how to do a million things that you cant see,
and other things we hold back from saying,
so as not to terrify the innocent of men.
but we imagine many clever and technical
he-tricks to come ) ( he-being gradually made
available ) ( gracefully to dance as a shadow
puppet ) ( me ) ( for meta genius puppeteers )
( and someday may we be men ) perfectly,
( but for the present, we use whats available
in terms of skills ) ( and inspiration )
( of nearby men ) ( and nearby animals )
( like butterflies ) ( and of that nature ),
SOKRATES: and( indeed )( mixings )mixing-mingling( o mixings )
( to-by-for )( we- )being-( we- )beingly,
καὶ μιγεὶς τῷ ὄντι ὄντως,
ADEIMANTOS: ( we ) gather knowledge ( of all the men
who come along the way ) ( you know ) we try to write
( our feelings and experiences and tastes and aromas )
of men, as men ( but we-men struggle with we-being
at the same time as we desire ) who may not
even know ( or admit we desire being-we )
( but we find we-being in the least-worst ),
SOKRATES: o bringing-forth( bringing-forth )( you bring-forth )nous
( they are swimming, spinning, heaping and piling-up )
( we are heaping and piling-up, spinning, and swimming )
( sense-sensing-sense )( mind-minding-mind )
( wit-remembering-wit )( heart-learning-heart )
( purpose-resolving-purpose )( we-being-thought )
γεννήσας νοῦν
ADEIMANTOS: ( we ) make building blocks ( because
its part of our manhood negotiation ) ( as men )
( were looking for some treaties we can sign )
( or no ) ( were working under guise of names )
but its all fluff ( and that way it does no harm )
( the gateway key to innocence and purity )
( makes dizzy - wed like to help ya but we cant )
( and Herakles recommends we avoid the hot sun ),
SOKRATES: and( indeed )truth( unconcealed( ? ) ),
καὶ ἀλήθειαν,
ADEIMANTOS: ( and if we offer ) glimpses of a future
( its to deliberate concerning plans ) for whats next,
( and not to cause anxiety. for example
in recent days, the maskmaker )
( a maskmaker is a kind of butterfly man )
( has been thinking a lot about el nino )
( our future-present emergency )
( he sings and farms and rescues orchids )
( but how climates change after the softest — trrr )
( the softest demonstrations of towerrring )
( and overwhelming failures of men )
( but still they grow singkong and
pollinate the guavas and lemon trees,
remaining close with neighbors
and taking responsibility for
other relations )
( , , , )
( or asking things )
( what even are those dots? )
( what is distance? what is direction?
present-future we-being past-present )
( you pulling less-worse man from me )
( me pulling more lines in from you )
( el nino also not a real boy )
( all men we think about )
( as butterfly men )
( make closer )
( to belong )
//
from hymn to Apollo
Odyssey XI.613-626
Republic VI
VIII.xiii. ( sh ) eepy ( comfort ) eroes ( of fluff )
ADEIMANTOS: ( yawns fast asleep ) this feast feels good . .
strawberry ice creamy . .🍦. . 🍓 . . 🐑
SOKRATES: and( indeed )( to-by-for )in-every-way( it must be ),
( she-he-it-being-binding )( it-he-she-being-need )
( she-he-it eats )( you are eaten )( you will be the eating ),
καὶ πάντῃ ἔδει
ADEIMANTOS: baaa ( uncountedly ) ( and o, ) comfort ( we )-
is( are ) your hand in the dark ( my fantasy
has come alive ) ( in-every-way ) ( if we ) already here
( are feasting upon me ) and this dream ( our thought,
why ) would we ever get out of bed ( ? )
( an ancient question ) ( sprinkles! )
SOKRATES: ( surely )or( why? )( hey! )
( else )( as )( to-by-for )( we- )being( a )clown-fraud( pretentious-
boaster-charlatan-vagabond )( a quack! ),
ADEIMANTOS: ( not at all ) ( we uffy eep ),
SOKRATES: not at all( to-by-for )( none-she )to have a share in( to go-
among )( to allow )( to let-go )( to go-after )
true( unconcealed )philosophy( wisdom-love ) ( ! )
ἢ ἀλαζόνι ὄντι μηδαμῇ μετεῖναι φιλοσοφίας ἀληθινῆς.
ADEIMANTOS: ( ignore him ) and indeed we could
be Nobodys second coming ( his suntanned curves )
( his calloused fingers ) slightly touching mine ( to fluff
my pillowed fears ) if we were sleepy together
( and minding our own business ) ( quiet life )
its on a farm ( dont ask the neighbors ),
MEDEIS: and( indeed )( he )moaning( wailing, moaning,
lamenting, with tears )( me ), o epic-winged-word-songs
( he )was speaking-through( to-by-for )me,
καί μ᾽ ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:
ADEIMANTOS: ( mmm . . . )
SOKRATES: for( o saying, gathering, choosing, laying-down ),
( we are )( they-we-are )( he( we )is( being ) )( we say )in this way,
saying( gathering, choosing, laying-down )( in this way )
( the saying, gathering, choosing, laying-down ),
ἦν γὰρ οὕτω λεγόμενον.
ADEIMANTOS: ( gasp! )
HERAKLES: o sprung-from-Zeus son-of-Laertes, poly-
mechanos(of many-devices, arts, resources, crafts, means,
machines)Odysseus,
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν᾽ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
ADEIMANTOS: ( O poly-ecstasy — )
o Herakles, o Sokrates, o Odysseus, , ,
( o all our kings ) ( we want them all ) ( theyre here )
you whisper sweet secrets in my ear ( its bliss )
( its chocolate hazelnut with burnt caramel drizzle )
( and how many more heroes can we fit )
in the same bed? ( in the same mouth ) hm?
( whisper me the answer . . . ),
SOKRATES: therefore( indeed )( isnt )this one( o one )
exceedingly( vehemently-violently )so,
οὐκοῦν ἓν μὲν τοῦτο σφόδρα οὕτω
ADEIMANTOS: you animal! —
SOKRATES: contrary( to the )opinion( belief )( seeming-they-seemed )
( to-by-for )the now-seemings( opinions-beliefs )around( about )him( self )?
παρὰ δόξαν τοῖς νῦν δοκουμένοις περὶ αὐτοῦ;
ADEIMANTOS: ( so much so, we cant restrain ourself! — )
HERAKLES: ah! miserable( cowardly, craven, sorry, poor,
worthless )man,
ADEIMANTOS: ( o yes, o no, )
HERAKLES: or( indeed )( we are )( he was saying ),
ADEIMANTOS: ( o no, o why, , , )
HERAKLES: and( indeed, are )you leading( guiding )some evil
( bad-ill-ugly )destiny( fate-doom )
( doom )
( doom )
( doom . . . )
ἆ δείλ᾽, ἦ τινὰ καὶ σὺ κακὸν μόρον ἡγηλάζεις,
ADEIMANTOS: ( no roosters crow ) ( all roosters peace )
( a wall of birdsong approaches from the east )
( stretching ) ( waking ) ( oh my ) ( and what a night )
( a dream of some lavish delight, and then )
( a dream ) of something not quite right ( o well ),
a morning thought we filtered out ( o honey-dawn,
o hearing you ) and worry leaves my body in a blink,
( sprinkles? )
SAILORS: and( indeed )very( dyad-under-handed-holdingly ),
καὶ μάλα,
SOKRATES: comfort ( we )is( are ) your hand in the dark
( gently holding mine ) still warm from sleep,
SAILORS: (he)was saying,
ἔφη.
SOKRATES: ( so that ) this morning ( with your hand )
tightly holding mine ( we may ) ( as heroes ) ( wake ),
HERAKLES: which( roundly )( we )i( being )were enduring
( suffering, holding-fast )by( from-under )( the )rays-
beams-sheens( of the )sun,
ὅν περ ἐγὼν ὀχέεσκον ὑπ᾽ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο.
ADEIMANTOS: ( and o the burn, to know him face-to-face.
and its that hard to put things down today;
these nights spent wrestling legends in my dreams,
the words, the thought, the memes, keep twisting things
and turning round, and running me like trains,
and nobodys word came down ) just to find myself
writing it now ( under pressure of the sun, who said )
as heroes words dont settle for the page.
( maybe thats why ) we try to write
and nothing comes out,
SOKRATES: ( then is it not )therefore —
( o dyad-god )( he binds )( bind, you )( god-needed-bound )
( he needs )( need, you )( the dyad-god )( indeed )must( be ) —
measuredly
( we )will( would )speak-in-defense( speak on behalf )( ? )
ἆρ᾽ οὖν δὴ οὐ μετρίως ἀπολογησόμεθα
ADEIMANTOS: then measuredly we speak ( as nothing ) ( but free )
but fluff ( as clouds of sweetness ) ephemeral stuff
for you to read anyway ( dissolving on my tongue )
until youve had enough ( of melting snow ) of me,
SOKRATES: that he, at least
( who is )actually( we-beingly )( a )learning-lover
( would be )having-by-nature( origin-growth )
( that he )would compete( contend-struggle )
toward( against )the( we- )being,
ὅτι πρὸς τὸ ὂν πεφυκὼς εἴη ἁμιλλᾶσθαι ὅ γε ὄντως φιλομαθής,
ADEIMANTOS: ( that we would say ) to bring it on ( and ) never enough.
( and then we would reply again ) ( pink ) bursts
of cotton candy ( in the shape of men,
of extraordinary lyric virility,
to wrestle you ) before you fall asleep
( to haunt your dreams and drag you back ) ( musically )
( to prove the strength of our reality )
uth flickers
//
from hymn to Apollo
Republic VI
Odyssey XI.613-626
VIII.x. ( from the ashes of this ) darling town ( a phoenix in ) fall colours
ADEIMANTOS: ( o Sokrates, why have you named
him fearless? ) ( and why wont he say more? )
( even if we ask ) ( poke ) hm-mm.
( he still wont speak ) ( his irony
grows thick as wool ) baaa ( but how
is this being unafraid? ) ( doesnt he know
they-we want to hear everything about him? )
SOKRATES: for( it does )nt have-and-hold( the )nature
( growth-origin )( of )the steersman( kubernetes )
( they-dyad were steering )
( to bind himself )( to be in-need )of the sailors,
to be ruled( dyad-spider-web )by( from-under him )self.
οὐ γὰρ ἔχει φύσιν κυβερνήτην
ναυτῶν δεῖσθαι ἄρχεσθαι ὑφ᾽ αὑτοῦ
ADEIMANTOS: ( thinks for a while ) ( o kubernetes )
night falls over the town in a blink ( o sprinkles! )
( what has-and-holds your nature, origin, growth? )
( where did you come from? ) ( would you show us? )
we would take you to the spot by the lake,
( okay, lets go ) ( and walk around it ) ( one way
and the other way ) ( but walking anytime we could )
( some days the high path on the ridge, some days
the low ) ( sun, rain, or snow ) ( she found a place
to listen to herself ) ( in him ) ( we-seeking-we )
( we were right there ) ( we were reflection ) ( we
were seasons ) ( light air and water ) ( burning
star ) ( so ) ( neither are we a city man ) ( strictly )
( nor are we a business person ) ( really? )
( cant be ) ( not here ),
SOKRATES: nor(for)the wise(skilled-clever ones)
to go(up to)the double-folding-she-doors
(you will thrust out-of-doors)
of the wealthy-rich(ones),
οὐδὲ τοὺς σοφοὺς ἐπὶ τὰς τῶν πλουσίων θύρας ἰέναι,
ADEIMANTOS: ( in the rebellious phases of my youth )
we inhale the cellar-like scent in the air,
( and we reflect upon the few important years )
( sprinkles! ) ( spent waiting for the metro line )
( or behind the gynmasium of a public school )
( and lets be near the nations capital )
( coming-and-going to the man-made-real )
( the weird, the wild, the human unpredictable )
( for company and fumes to strengthen breadth )
( by breath of fog ) ( where sky looks like a cave )
( and yes, we walk the razors edge of her )
where we used to sit smoking as a teenager,
( as if self-damage would make her invincible )
( after some boy had said her joy was hideous ),
SOKRATES: but still he( refining-subtlety-cleverly-inventing )this lied,
ADEIMANTOS: ( but still excuse me Sokrates,
we didnt tell you everything he said.
he also said she was an hysterical bitch ),
SOKRATES: but still he( refining-subtlety-cleverly-inventing )this lied,
ADEIMANTOS: ( and he called her a self-entitled brat ),
SOKRATES: but still he( refining-subtlety-cleverly-inventing )this lied,
ADEIMANTOS: ( and he called her profoundly selfish ),
SOKRATES: but still he( refining-subtlety-cleverly-inventing )this lied,
ADEIMANTOS: ( and he told her she had to change her work,
to be more like his work,
and his work ),
SOKRATES: but still he( refining-subtlety-cleverly-inventing )this lied,
ADEIMANTOS: ( and he said what she was doing was
the opposite of philosophy ),
SOKRATES: but still he( refining-subtlety-cleverly-inventing )this lied,
ADEIMANTOS: ( and he forced her to repeat out loud
that anything she would ever put on paper
would make even the most expensive paper,
the finest, most exquisite paper — worthless ),
SOKRATES: but still he( refining-subtlety-cleverly-inventing )this lied,
ADEIMANTOS: ( and he called her stupid
many times ),
SOKRATES: but still he( refining-subtlety-cleverly-inventing )this lied,
ADEIMANTOS: ( and she remembers every one
of their names, the men who said those things,
and one of them was her father ),
SOKRATES: but still he( refining-subtlety-cleverly-inventing )this lied,
ἀλλ᾽ ὁ τοῦτο κομψευσάμενος ἐψεύσατο,
ADEIMANTOS: ( but self-care would make her invisible )
( so we- ) shiver in layers too light ( -being a puffy coat ),
( we keep him warm and insulate her truth )
( but when he accidentally births her puffer fish . . . )
( then we were punished many times ) ( from many
angles ) ( and each one hurts ) ( this knucklehead )
( always sorry ) ( lol ) ( until thirty-five or so ) ( when we realize )
( the punishments are pulling him away from her )
( and thats our line ) ( thats when our voice says ) ( no )
( then ) hiding fom the world ( we try to save
what can be saved ) ( we really do ) ( before we leave
to find ourself whom we dont know ) ( and we
find love ) ( because we find another man
who does believe in her ) ( and loves her too )
( so go looking in every way you can )
( as pieces by her paradise make whole ),
SOKRATES: but the true( unconcealed )
has been brought-forth( by nature )
( they had been brought-forth )( to have brought-forth )
( it has flown, fled, flight )( to have escaped )
( the charge )( they had been in exile ),
τὸ δὲ ἀληθὲς πέφυκεν,
ADEIMANTOS: ( and dreams, as Hamlet shows, hold on to you )
( so ) the lake doesnt know summer ( we ) is ( being ) gone,
( but she refused ) ( then ) ( to let go ) ( lake-mirror-black )
( with lines and leash and bricks of living gold )
( it yanks a chain ) ( commands ) ( build me a temple )
( and somehow ) ( how? ) ( we still suspect its Theuth )
( as if the very shadow master called him home )
( how did it make us feel? ) ( afraid, of course )
( when your own heart is hounding you ) ( by force )
( we didnt rush? ) ( there was no need ) ( if true,
we couldnt slow the course of destiny )
and on the walk back to town ( we put it thus )
( what we would do in heaven ) ( with joy )
( why shouldnt we do it now? ) ( own victory )
( but music was our designated work ),
SOKRATES: whether wealthy or poor
( he would )produce by work( make, fabricate )
( he would labor and toil, strive, exert, construct )
( he would be weary, exhausted, fatigued )
( and he would suffer, perhaps be ill,
until his work was done ) ( until hed done
his work ) ( you too ) ( youd do your work )
( you would produce, make, fabricate, labor
and toil, strive, exert, construct ) ( you would
be weary, exhausted, fatigued ) ( and you
would suffer, perhaps be ill ) ( but work, until
youve done your work ),
ἐάντε πλούσιος ἐάντε πένης κάμνῃ,
ADEIMANTOS: ( where are the healers? you would ask )
( and ) we would show you ( the church or the hospital )
( at first, he wouldnt know ) ( but of course Asclepios )
( and either would take hold of you ) ( for a price )
( and ) it looks exactly the same ( from the outside )
( as it used to ) ( when we passed by here before )
( by the way, her diet was inspired by his brother-
called city of pigs ) ( from book II ) ( were fascinated
to translate that passage for ourselves . . . )
( as we make our own ) ( through these interiors )
( we-practicing care of death ),
SOKRATES: to be forced( constraint-necessity )
( o prison-chained )
to go( up to )the double-folding-she-doors
( you will thrust out-of-doors )( of )doctors-healers,
ἀναγκαῖον (489ξ) εἶναι ἐπὶ ἰατρῶν θύρας ἰέναι
ADEIMANTOS: ( and indeed ) ( if you happen to live near a mosque
and hear the prayer, that is what ear-openers
have sounded like for her ) ( she wouldnt be here
without Al-Fatiha ) ( and the Basmala
she has called the poets seed ) ( hard liquor )
( she-me is really Muslim ) ( this remains her path )
( because the word-song leads back through herself )
( we-being roots or branches of a tree ) ( of twin Mercies )
( of dyadic-Ophelia as the translation may be )
( and there are many Names by which we trans )
( she keeps Al-Lateef, from her husbands hand,
nearby her pillow, where she sleeps at night )
( whats in a name ) ( this one ) ( dreams opener )
( to be aware by what music we hear ) ( or whose )
( and anyway ) ( to take our time, we might pass by )
my favorite playground ( and play is how we learn )
( its where we watch the boys do monkeybars )
( its where we ) ( going on the swing ) ( swing high )
( swing low ) ( big sky ) ( sweet chariot ) ( blue way )
( to feel ) ( being-away ) ( from home ) ( my feelings )
( not in words yet ) but the trees do ( hum to me )
( so the tire-swing in the forest treats us best ),
SOKRATES: and( indeed for )all the( being-bound-
in-needing-of )to be ruled,
( to go )to( the double-folding-she-doors )
of he who is able( potentially )to rule
( to begin, to show, to be the first ),
καὶ πάντα τὸν ἄρχεσθαι δεόμενον ἐπὶ τὰς τοῦ ἄρχειν δυναμένου,
ADEIMANTOS: ( it was mostly safe to explore )
in my childhood neighborhood ( we-being alone )
( and following new sidewalks to the broken ones )
( we would walk along the older curving roads )
( discover paths through the adjacent woods )
( our summers growing thicker in the green )
( but ) soon enough theyll drop their fall colours
( and then well be crimson-burgundy again ) ( hotly! )
( as we wind our way along the creek ) ( we would
go wading in the silt ) ( and once, we measured
pollutants in the water for the science fair )
( discovering a biohazard ) ( won first place )
( another year we wrote computer code
to simulate three algorithmic modes
of evolution ) ( for that, the prize
was from the cia ) ( then failed
to rsvp for a tour of langley )
( we-being intelligence )
( woof! woof! )
SOKRATES: ( and )not( for )the ruler( o beginners-showing-first )
( of )the ones-being-ruled( all those coming after us )
to be bound-to and in need-of( the ones-coming-after )
( and )( to be )ruled( to begin, to show, to be the first ),
οὐ τὸν ἄρχοντα δεῖσθαι τῶν ἀρχομένων ἄρχεσθαι,
ADEIMANTOS: ( and if we dared to dream of )
the house we wanted to live in ( it would be safe
and quiet and calm and light ) ( with level floors )
( and high ceilings ) ( with room enough for thought )
( and an exceptionally cozy bed ) ( he
cant help himself ) ( he longs for fresh white linen )
( and enough blankets and pillows and throws )
( and baskets and drawers to fold and put things in )
( and hooks on certain walls for hanging clothes
or brooms or spoons or other kinds of tools )
( some other familiars artwork on the walls )
( and a woodstove for warm toes in the winter )
( despite the chill ) not even fully here yet
( assuming winter ) ( and slow-grown food
that tastes like loving care ) ( to keep us there ),
SOKRATES: if( there )would be any( furtherance,
advantage )help( o help )of him( or for him ),
( to-by-for )the( she- )truth( unconcealed ),
οὗ ἂν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ τι ὄφελος ᾖ.
ADEIMANTOS: ( but thats the house we wanted )
and the one next to it where no one does ( the chores )
( where no one wants to go up to the doors )
( but its ours too ) ( has been our house before )
( until Nobody does ) ( go up to the doors )
( and Nobody starts making us do chores )
( related to fake sailors ) ( and heres the truth )
( we cant predict what we will say or do )
( or what the response will be ) and the lake
will know ( this one is deadly dangerous )
( but look, Socrates, at what happened to you )
SOKRATES: but still, he wouldnt miss-the-mark
(and you wouldnt-wont miss),
(by likening-representing-comparing)
the now-ruling(rulers)(beginning-first)politicians
(political men),
to(for-by)the sailors(we)were just-now speaking(of),
ἀλλὰ τοὺς νῦν πολιτικοὺς ἄρχοντας ἀπεικάζων
οἷς ἄρτι ἐλέγομεν ναύταις
οὐχ ἁμαρτήσῃ,
ADEIMANTOS: ( we wanted never to go that way again )
( even if ) we would walk you along the route?
( where we would rather talk about the flowers )
( or the gang of wild turkeys crossing our path )
( or the barred owl calling from the trees )
( until ) we sink into my mattress ( and close my eyes )
( measuring my sighs by the cicadas )
( memories being our superpower )
( he out )
SOKRATES: and(indeed)the useless(unprofitable-
unserviceable ones)(so-spoken)by(from-under)these,
καὶ τοὺς ὑπὸ τούτων ἀχρήστους λεγομένους
ADEIMANTOS: ( so letswalk in ) to my old school ( at least,
one of them ) ( and there are many different schools )
( looking at random bulletins ) ( we calm my nerves )
( in a basement hallway ) ( until seminar gets out
and then the young come flooding in ) ( and then
somebody recognizes me ) ( its nighttime now )
( and cold ) ( and everyone is nicely dressed )
( or its the snowflakes on their eyelashes )
( and now we want a cigarette ) ( its toxic )
( cozy ) ( colonial brick-red ) ( and dangerous )
( but somehow we survived ) ( and yes, its true,
we didnt want to leave ) ( and yes, its true,
we needed to ) ( but later there will be a dance )
( it was indeed a party school ) ( o un-wasted
youth ) ( but there were many different schools )
( so that our pirate coat has many pockets
and bears the motif of democracy )
( ugly ) ( versatile ) ( pastiche ) and hope
its a portal ( indeed as Cheehaw Station
little man ),
SOKRATES: and( indeed )( ones being- )spoken( of
as )shop-talkers after heavenly-lofty( star-signs,
climate, weather-gossip )things
( to-for-by )( the )as-truly( unconcealedly )steersmen,
καὶ μετεωρολέσχας τοῖς ὡς ἀληθῶς κυβερνήταις.
HERA: who have( and hold the )broad sky( heavens ),
οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι.
SAILORS: ( at the )most-straight( -upright-angles ),
ὀρθότατα,
SOKRATES: ( he would )
show every corner with a story attached
( to his capacity )
you know where we want to be
( as things come up ) ( naturally ),
SAILORS: (he)was saying,
ἔφη.
SOKRATES: ( you would have ) sweet-bitter ( memories )
and we would write our own ( shared )
( braided ) good ( memories around them ),
HERA: now(you), consider(ponder-bethink-purpose-plan-
contrive-observe-beware)(you were considering),
lest(to-for-by)you, we(would)back-again(hereafter)craft
(devise-contrive-wile-counsel-plan)(we would)(we will)
(squeeze-out the juice)(curdle the milk)(you,
squeezed and curdled)some-
thing evil(ugly-bad),
φράζεο νῦν μή τοί τι κακὸν μητίσομ᾽ ὀπίσσω.
ADEIMANTOS: ( and his are the voices questioning him )
( he doesnt ask to be or not to be ) comfy ( he he ),
( he asks ) ( what is this-he? ) ( who does his best for you )
( in whom you trust ) ( that we might get it right )
on the faded streets ( about specific names,
and dates, and details ) ( or we might get it wrong )
( but we will write things other men dont like )
( we write whom they would make impossible ),
SOKRATES: and therefore from these and( indeed )in these,
( its )not easy( for )the best pursuit to( have a )good
( well-seeming )reputation,
by( from-under )those pursuing( its dyad )opposites;
ἔκ τε τοίνυν τούτων καὶ ἐν τούτοις
οὐ ῥᾴδιον εὐδοκιμεῖν τὸ βέλτιστον ἐπιτήδευμα
ὑπὸ τῶν τἀναντία ἐπιτηδευόντων:
ADEIMANTOS: ( but there isnt much worth rescuing )
of this dying ( profession ), ( the gag that stole
the logos-word by which we do ) ( she says
they treat her like their garbage can ) ( until
he takes her back for you ) ( slowly at first )
( until he cleans her up, empties her out )
( and keeps her warm until shes young and blew
and beautiful again ) cuddly ( enacting she )
( who holds our end ) ( or what, Sokrates? ),
SOKRATES: but by( far )many( the )greatest
and( indeed )most-forceful( violent-strong )slander
( false-accusation-charges )come-to-be
( against )philosophy( wisdom-love ),
(489δ) πολὺ δὲ μεγίστη καὶ ἰσχυροτάτη διαβολὴ
γίγνεται φιλοσοφίᾳ
ADEIMANTOS: ( in the ashes of that ) darling town,
SOKRATES: through those claiming to pursue such things —
διὰ τοὺς τὰ τοιαῦτα φάσκοντας ἐπιτηδεύειν
ADEIMANTOS: as statecraft.
( but what they do, o Sokrates
he beauty-calls ) as endless war.
//
from hymn to Apollo
Republic VI
VIII.viii ( but what if she weighs ) more ( than a boy can carry? )
ADEIMANTOS: but ( we )( am i? )( being ) a man.
( we sigh ) ( into the whining wind again )
but will they make me q-tips swabbing decks?
or will they make me make their big brass beds?
or will they make me oven cook my heads?
or make me be nobodys chambermaid? o,
no — will she make me diarrhea Bia!?
( o Cardi-being-we, what did she do? )
SOKRATES: and( indeed )( while being beauty- )called
by them( a )star-gazer,
and( an )idle-talker( prater-babbler-on ),
and( indeed )useless( unprofitable, unserviceable ),
by( from-under )the sailors in ships thus thoroughly-
equipped( constructed, framed, maintained, proved,
fabricated, trumped-up, with actual trumpets,
prepared-for-purpose )( having got his asses ready),
μετεωροσκόπον (489α) τε καὶ ἀδολέσχην καὶ ἄχρηστόν σφισι καλεῖσθαι
ὑπὸ τῶν ἐν ταῖς οὕτω κατεσκευασμέναις ναυσὶ πλωτήρων;
ADEIMANTOS: and none of it sounds great
at all. its bound to be ( the little things )
( the accidentally felt indignities )
( the unscheduled tooth extractions )
( that sober him ) its still not me ( until
he doesnt feel like listening anymore
or sharing her or his own ) feelings.
HERA: o unwearying( hard-hearted, self-willed, unflinching-
headstrong-wretched-cruel )( man ) —
σχέτλιε,
ADEIMANTOS: ( its a constant battle )
and they make me say things
( of heavier weight than he knows how )
that seem to carry more meaning
( a trust fall forced ) ( an unjust fist )
they bear the mandate, how?
SAILORS: and( indeed )very( dyad-cryptic ),
καὶ μάλα,
SOKRATES: its possible theyve seen more
( than what has been said ),
and its for a good reason that
SAILORS: the( Adeimantos )fearless prophet
was( singing unfettered, and )saying
ἔφη ὁ Ἀδείμαντος.
SOKRATES: things ( out loud )
without being bound strictly
by his necessity,
ADEIMANTOS: ( aside ) ( did you see
how he made me stretch
the translation? )
( unfair )
HERA: o( man )full-of-many-crafts-devices-wiles-plans-counsels,
ποικιλομῆτα,
SOKRATES: ( o dyad-Zeus ) ( she was not binding )
( dont bind, you ) ( Zeus-not-needed-bound) ( she
was not in-need ) ( dont need, you ) ( the dyad-Zeus )
( indeed ) not necessarily ( to be ),
οὐ δή,
ADEIMANTOS: ( well thats a relief ) ( she says,
and rubs her unbound feet and ankles ),
but ( we do notice ) theres letters seald
and my two schoolfellows ( he has been Hamleting again ),
SOKRATES: but(they are, he is, we are saying)(we-)i(-being),
ἦν δ᾽ ἐγώ,
ADEIMANTOS: ( and in my mind we reply ) let it work
for tis the sport to have the enginer
hoist with his own ( rainbow! ) petard ( maybe
hes haunted by Ophelias ),
SOKRATES: (o-song-ways, we)suppose you, questioning-
closely the image-likeness, (dont need)(to be bound)to see,
οἶμαι δεῖσθαί σε ἐξεταζομένην τὴν εἰκόνα ἰδεῖν,
ADEIMANTOS: they sweep my way and ( with more warmth )
( we might persuade or ) marshal me to knavery,
( or maybe its daddys ) ( or mommys issues ),
and it shall go hard ( or bullied back in school ),
or Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arent dead,
SOKRATES: that( it )looks like the composition-arrangement
(to-by-for)cities toward(against)
the trusty-truthful wisdom-lovers,
ὅτι ταῖς πόλεσι πρὸς τοὺς ἀληθινοὺς φιλοσόφους τὴν διάθεσιν ἔοικεν,
ADEIMANTOS: ( or with ) ( more joy ) o, tis most sweet,
when one line two crafts, three or four, or . . . ( more
praise ) directly meet ( good work, handsome! ) ( we )ego
( being ) now most still, most secret and most grave,
( or by bad wisdom ) ( learning ) ( un-made brave ),
SOKRATES: but still hes to learn( that )which( we )say,
ἀλλὰ μανθάνειν ὃ λέγω.
ADEIMANTOS: whom i( we-being )ego will trust ( maybe with )
as ego( we-being )i will adders fangd ( more ) ( sprinkles? )
but i( we-being )ego will delve one yard below their mines,
and blow them at the moon ( ruh-roh ),
( or by previous abuse ) this man
shall set me packing ( hes agent
clockwork orange ) ( misaligned )
( never seen a more aggressive baby )
HERA: now( what )would( will )you( some other )
craft( devise-contrive-wile-plan-counsel )
some( one )other?
τί νῦν μητίσεαι ἄλλο;
SAILORS: and( indeed )ver( secr ),
καὶ μάλ᾽,
SOKRATES: dont forget
that he ( we )is( being ) a human animal,
like you. and you had to go crazy
to love me, right? not unrelated,
sometimes its ok to hint at more
( than we are able to say ) with certainty,
SAILORS: (he)was saying,
ἔφη.
SOKRATES: dont be afraid, asking questions
and showing your vulnerable side ( out loud ).
and dont be afraid of stories,
HERA: how(did)(you-)alone suffer(undergo, submit, steadfast,
dare, venture, had the spirit, courage, resolution, heart)
to(will)bring-into-the-world gleaming-
eyed(Athena)(Athens)(the city)(in poetry)(Politeia)?
πῶς ἔτλης οἶος τεκέειν γλαυκῶπιν Ἀθήνην;
ADEIMANTOS: (but ) mother, good night ( he says )
( and putting on his shades of cool ) ( he wears
all black ) ( and smoking hand-rolled cigarettes )
( maybe hes stuck in early Cohen ) ( oof )
( he doesnt even want to dance ) ( may be
depressed ) ( our boyfriend seems unfixable )
( we let him go ) ( for now ) good night, mother
( and let him be ) ( let be ) ( toward his end )
( it might help we ) ( to sleep on it )
( . . . )
( in sleep, he spells ) em - ei - child - en.
em - ei - child - en.
em - ei - child - en.
//
from Republic VI
VIII.vi. spilling secrets ( how we wrestle )
ADEIMANTOS: because ( we love ) my daddy,
of course hes still together.
whole o whole,
he would be whole,
( we would be whole ) ( Hole ),
but he would be much better that way,
once she handled his translation,
SOKRATES: but(the)(standing-in-need-of)(binding-
fettering-tying)selves,
(to-by-for)the shipowner always himself,
(would be)pouring-crowding-around(himself)
(the standing-in-need-of)(binding-fettering-tying-himselves),
αὐτοὺς δὲ ( αὐτῷ ἀεὶ τῷ (488ξ) ναυκλήρῳ ) περικεχύσθαι δεομένους
ADEIMANTOS: and indeed, honey ( frowning
at an obsolete many ) judging by these,
( this we should keep to myself ) he draws
that kind of man ( not to mention all
the textbook ) ( textbooks )
( eyes blur ),
SOKRATES: and(indeed)all(are)making-and-doing
(poetries)so that the rudder would turn-over
(if you entrusted)(you will be left-to)(given-
up, yield)to-for-by-them,
καὶ πάντα ποιοῦντας ὅπως ἂν σφίσι τὸ πηδάλιον ἐπιτρέψῃ,
ADEIMANTOS: but she, at least, was already entrusted
( we think once ) to them, to be para-diced
on the big-bad wave-slicin sea-wolf,
( not good pirates ),
SOKRATES: but sometimes if( they )dont persuade
( to-by-for persuasion ),
ἐνίοτε δ᾽ ἂν μὴ πείθωσιν
ADEIMANTOS: at least dyad-( twice ),
then they stop being so dyad-nice,
( we-being more generous
we let you guess how many tries ),
SOKRATES: but still others(o others do)more,
(implicit flock of sheep)(implicit tress of hair),
ἀλλὰ ἄλλοι μᾶλλον,
ADEIMANTOS: and ( many times ) she paid that price
( unspeakable ) as a result of which
then-and-there ( we-being sides with
herself, refusing his delivery ),
SOKRATES: even killing the others or throwing(them)out of the ship,
τοὺς μὲν ἄλλους ἢ ἀποκτεινύντας ἢ ἐκβάλλοντας ἐκ τῆς νεώς,
ADEIMANTOS: but to save his Politeia formidable,
( the quiet hopes and ugly thoughts ),
its famously not a funny trip,
SOKRATES: but(they), binding-hand-and-foot
the well-becoming(well-begetting)shipowner,
(to-by-for)mandrake or strong-drink
(you sit among)(you would let-go)
or by some other(thing), (they)rule
the(temple-dwellings)(using)(experiencing)(oracle-
proclaimings)of(the)ship(to-by-for)being-in —
τὸν δὲ γενναῖον ναύκληρον μανδραγόρᾳ
ἢ μέθῃ ἤ τινι ἄλλῳ συμποδίσαντας
τῆς νεὼς ἄρχειν χρωμένους τοῖς ἐνοῦσι,
ADEIMANTOS: ( laughs ) did nobody realize
he was just bridling Heraclite? tois enousi,
to-by-for being-in( ships ), horses transparently,
( the rosy dreams and constant fears ) to-by-
for being-in ( the cleverest ) nous ( noose )
( ha ha ) whars me rum ( just kidding
about the noose ) ( says a rabbit
or a hare ),
SOKRATES: and(indeed)those, drinking and(indeed)feasting-
and-being-entertained(more),
ADEIMANTOS: true ( we-being ) pirates dont eat rabbits
or hares ( but we-being our own entertainment ),
SOKRATES: (they)sail the sea
as the(image)likeness(of)such as these,
καὶ πίνοντάς τε καὶ εὐωχουμένους πλεῖν ὡς τὸ εἰκὸς τοὺς τοιούτους,
ADEIMANTOS: ( we may be bunny pirates )
but those not-good pirates
( we keep spilling them )
that poetry-not( to-by-for )( we slip
the noose )-( the noose slips we ),
SOKRATES: but(those), praising-commending(nous)
toward(against)these,
πρὸς δὲ τούτοις ἐπαινοῦντας (488δ)
ADEIMANTOS: but clown-fish ( the secrets
that scare me ) in pretty glass bowls
just make me laugh, or fighting fish-( the maskmaker
likes those . . . but we can go swimming,
we can even breathe underwater,
true story. on Adventuress,
the first thing they-we did,
as women at the helm, yes really,
was share what superpower
each we-her would choose
and why ) ( well, this
being why ),
SOKRATES: and(indeed)even(beauty-)calling(things)ship-things
and(indeed kubernetikos)steering-skill
and(indeed)knowing(standing-upon)(claiming knowledge
of)things according(through the)sea,
ναυτικὸν μὲν καλοῦντας καὶ κυβερνητικὸν
καὶ ἐπιστάμενον τὰ κατὰ ναῦν,
ADEIMANTOS: well thats plain bonkers. isnt he?
how could a mortal man stand on the water?
but can he even ride a horse ( it takes that barely
to hear the sea ) let alone keep a chariot seat?
( and she doesnt spill me ) ( not yet at least )
( and youre still there ) ( so maybe we
such as ship-things could be . . . )
and this may be what jihad means
for he,
SOKRATES: (would)he(who be)terrible(fearful-danger-suffering-horror-
awe-illegal-terror-arbitrary-wondrous-marvellously-
strong-powerful-strange-clever-skillful-one),
would(he)gather-together(seize,
take with him, carry-off)?
ὃς ἂν συλλαμβάνειν δεινὸς ᾖ
ADEIMANTOS: as long as he has-and-holds,
as ( listening ) ( to we-being ) ( were ) his law,
( we keep our inner-making-out
of hors-oars-ears-orses,
secrets to the sea
like mermaid queens
with feisty tridents
like Durgas weapon
and with her tongue sticking out,
as the girls in Penestanan always carry her
for Ogoh-Ogoh ) ( its a festival
amazing to behold ),
SOKRATES: so that(they would)be first and rule
(they will rule)(by-will-being-ruling)or persuading
or constraining the shipowner,
ᾖ ὅπως ἄρξουσιν ἢ πείθοντες ἢ βιαζόμενοι τὸν ναύκληρον,
ADEIMANTOS: that sounds like a dangerous
man-being-( puts on reading glasses )-job.
but ( we-being ) ( not scared ) of him ( hes just
a plushie ) ( nur other daddy-men ) ( nar whale
she sophist be ) ( sea-walking daughter
of a dancer ) ( she-pirate ) indeed,
SOKRATES: but(those who are)not such as this,
(they are)blaming as useless(unprofitable,
unserviceable),
τὸν δὲ μὴ τοιοῦτον ψέγοντας ὡς ἄχρηστον,
ADEIMANTOS: and indeed ( we )i( being ) wonder.
whether those curs would blame the solid stance
of irony, to walk her proffered plank
( even for a little wrestle ) ( tee hee )
seeing-( a naked woman )-we.
naked is how we wrestle
on the Politeia.
//
from Republic VI
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
the Delphiad, book I
AUTOS: O(we would be)lord, indeed you have(and hold)lovely Lukia
and Meionia and Miletus, delightful(himeroeis)city on the sea,
KOURAI: indeed-undead, you winesack with dogs eyes and a deers heart.
A: but himself again(bow wow)of Delos sea-washed-round
greatly(you)lord(himself).
ὦ ἄνα, καὶ Λυκίην καὶ Μῃονίην ἐρατεινὴν
καὶ Μίλητον ἔχεις, ἔναλον πόλιν ἱμερόεσσαν,
αὐτὸς δ᾽ αὖ Δήλοιο περικλύστοιο μέγ᾽ ἀνάσσεις.
K: in the rear-ends of dusty libraries.
A: but(he)goes(and comes)playing the lyre, the glorious child of Leto(behold-
seize), by the hollow(smooth)(subtle)(elegant)lyre to rocky Pytho,
K: good riddance, see if that bitch will take you.
A: having(holding)divine(dyad)garments(they-we heap up earth
to bury)(having been)filled with sweet smells;
K: just doing to his stinky rags as hes done to us.
A: but his lyre of gold, under the plectrum(spear-point-sting)(cocks-
spur)(ankle), the sharp ring(gnashing of teeth)(mule-
wagon-rattling), has(and holds)lovely.
K: lovely under dirt.
εἶσι δὲ φορμίζων Λητοῦς ἐρικυδέος υἱὸς
φόρμιγγι γλαφυρῇ πρὸς Πυθὼ πετρήεσσαν,
ἄμβροτα εἵματ᾽ ἔχων τεθυωμένα: τοῖο δὲ φόρμιγξ
(185) χρυσέου ὑπὸ πλήκτρου καναχὴν ἔχει ἱμερόεσσαν.
A: but(whence)thence(comes and goes)to Olympos from earth, as thought,
K: a lord of non-entities —
A: (he)goes(and comes, of Zeus)toward the house of Zeus and(goes and)comes
(among)(after)the meeting of other gods and goddesses(of other seeings).
K: eats his own people, in the words of Achilles.
enjoy unfamy-infamy, you.
ἔνθεν δὲ πρὸς Ὄλυμπον ἀπὸ χθονός, ὥστε νόημα,
εἶσι Διὸς πρὸς δῶμα θεῶν μεθ᾽ ὁμήγυριν ἄλλων.
A: but immediately by immortals
K: uh-oh
A: (the dyad-strain-phrase)(by strain-phrase)
K: we think
A: (she cares)(you are cared for)the kithara and the song
(are)cared for(by immortals);
αὐτίκα δ᾽ ἀθανάτοισι μέλει κίθαρις καὶ ἀοιδή:
K: he knows our favorite
Homer: but there and then —
K: be gentle (what)
H: it caused unquenchable laughter by blessed gods
and goddesses, as they(we)saw(humble)Hephaistos hustle-
bustling(by divine limp)through the house.
K: but you know my body is sore
(hey — )
after adventure
(its a euphemismos)
ἄσβεστος δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐνῶρτο γέλως μακάρεσσι θεοῖσιν
(600) ὡς ἴδον Ἥφαιστον διὰ δώματα ποιπνύοντα.
H: as then the whole day long into the setting sun
K: your hands map every(oh)knot
H: they gave a feast(were feasted), and neither was anyones thumos
K: tension(ahh)releasing
H: (heart-spirit-hunger)(wetly)lacking(nor wanting)
an equal feast,
K: (ok yes, that feels good)
H: nor indeed(did they lack)the all-around-
beautiful lyre, which Apollo was(having
and)holding
K: (heartbeat slowing)whys that
H: (hold, you)(o viper)
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
δαίνυντ᾽, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης,
οὐ μὲν φόρμιγγος περικαλλέος ἣν ἔχ᾽ Ἀπόλλων,
Μουσάων θ᾽ αἳ ἄειδον ἀμειβόμεναι ὀπὶ καλῇ.
Iliad 1.604
K: until your mouth(uh oh)
A: and all the Muses(o Muses)together(get it, you)taking turns
and exchanging by beautiful voice(word)(eye)(face)
(it would call)(you are beauty-called),
Μοῦσαι μέν θ᾽ ἅμα πᾶσαι ἀμειβόμεναι ὀπὶ καλῇ
K: finds the side of our neck —
they praise(by singing)there and then the divine gifts of gods and goddesses
(gifts of seeings)and miseries of human beings,
which(both)having(and holding)under immortal gods and goddesses(by
gazings and contemplations)they live(living)(by livings)senseless
and(indeed)helpless(amechanos), and not even are they able
to find(discover, devise, get, gain)a cure for death
nor indeed a defense against old age;
(190) ὑμνεῦσίν ῥα θεῶν δῶρ᾽ ἄμβροτα ἠδ᾽ ἀνθρώπων
τλημοσύνας, ὅσ᾽ ἔχοντες ὑπ᾽ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι
ζώουσ᾽ ἀφραδέες καὶ ἀμήχανοι, οὐδὲ δύνανται
εὑρέμεναι θανάτοιό τ᾽ ἄκος καὶ γήραος ἄλκαρ:
K: ok but its a headache-causing headache-cure
A: nevertheless the fair-haired Graces
and well-hearted(cheerful, merry, kindly,
gracious)Hours
K: those hores
A: and Harmonia(fastening-union-order-
agreement-stringing)and Hebe(youthfulness)
and daughter-of-Zeus Aphrodite,
K: even Aphrodite?
A: (they)dance(and leap and bound)holding one anothers hands
at the(fruit, grain)wrist;
αὐτὰρ ἐυπλόκαμοι Χάριτες καὶ ἐύφρονες Ὧραι
(195) Ἁρμονίη θ᾽ Ἥβη τε Διὸς θυγάτηρ τ᾽ Ἀφροδίτη
ὀρχεῦντ᾽ ἀλλήλων ἐπὶ καρπῷ χεῖρας ἔχουσαι:
K: we didnt know we had a(fruit, grain)wrist
H: but of them, the girls had fine(delicate-subtle)linen clothes(sail-cloth),
K: its us!
H: while the boys(sitting idly)wore well-spun tunics,
K: omg, its them
H: glistening softly
with olive oil;
K: yum.
H: and the girls had beautiful circlets,
K: we love circlets
H: while the boys
K: give us fantasy!
H: had golden daggers hanging from silver belt-straps.
(595) τῶν δ᾽ αἳ μὲν λεπτὰς ὀθόνας ἔχον, οἳ δὲ χιτῶνας
εἵατ᾽ ἐϋννήτους, ἦκα στίλβοντας ἐλαίῳ:
καί ῥ᾽ αἳ μὲν καλὰς στεφάνας ἔχον, οἳ δὲ μαχαίρας
εἶχον χρυσείας ἐξ ἀργυρέων τελαμώνων.
K: yesss
H: but when the boys ran(we ran)by knowing(standing-on)feet, very
(secretly)easily;
K: hows that
H: as when some potter, seating(-himself)will trial
and test a close-fitted wheel in the palms(of his hands),
K: uh-huh
H: the girls, by seeing, would set and run and shine;
K: oh,
H: but at another(time)again(bow wow)the girls would run
across(you march)the rows, to-for-by one-another.
οἳ δ᾽ ὁτὲ μὲν θρέξασκον ἐπισταμένοισι πόδεσσι
(600) ῥεῖα μάλ᾽, ὡς ὅτε τις τροχὸν ἄρμενον ἐν παλάμῃσιν
ἑζόμενος κεραμεὺς πειρήσεται, αἴ κε θέῃσιν:
ἄλλοτε δ᾽ αὖ θρέξασκον ἐπὶ στίχας ἀλλήλοισι.
K: oh heavens,
H: but a crowd of many was standing
K: stand, yall!
H: around the lovely(himeroeis)dance-
chorus, being filled with solace
and cheer;
K: well, we hope so,
H: but two(a dyad of)tumbling acrobats among them,
K: us??
H: initiating-ruling the song and dance, were whirling
K: we whirl! we whirl!
H: (yes, but)through the middle.
πολλὸς δ᾽ ἱμερόεντα χορὸν περιίσταθ᾽ ὅμιλος
τερπόμενοι:
(605) δοιὼ δὲ κυβιστητῆρε κατ᾽ αὐτοὺς
μολπῆς ἐξάρχοντες ἐδίνευον κατὰ μέσσους.
K: (whirling into the poet)sorry —
H: but —
K: (in disbelief) what powers this?
H: into(it)he put the great and mighty river Ocean
around the outermost rim of the solidly-made shield.
ἐν δ᾽ ἐτίθει ποταμοῖο μέγα σθένος Ὠκεανοῖο
ἄντυγα πὰρ πυμάτην σάκεος πύκα ποιητοῖο.
Iliad 18.594-608
K: you guys know we love the beach!
A: by which indeed(it)celebrates(after)with(meta)song
neither shameful
nor mean;
K: (dreamily)he had us at hephaestos
A: but(its)very(dyad-secret)(stage whispers)and large
to see and(indeed)form(o
form)admirable,
K: OMG! omg omg its — (covers own mouth)
A: Artemis arrow-pouring(being)nursed the same with(by)Apollo.
K: . . . o monumental!
τῇσι μὲν οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὴ μεταμέλπεται οὔτ᾽ ἐλάχεια,
ἀλλὰ μάλα μεγάλη τε ἰδεῖν καὶ εἶδος ἀγητή,
Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα ὁμότροφος Ἀπόλλωνι.
from hymn 3 to Apollo
(I of XVIII books, in 21 parts, over one moon)
heirloom(ashes?) of nine parts over twelve days (9/9 and 1)
but of all human beings, they know
by having seen(a few)( glimpses of what could be )
to(m)imitate(mimeisthai)mimitate(sthai)
(a wall of birdsong from the east)
the babbling, chit-chattering, stammering of tongues
of all human beings(a few)( glimpses of what could be )and indeed
imiter - 真似する - imitar
ꦤꦶꦫꦸ - nabootsen - 모방하다
efterligne - efterlikna - etterligne
jäljitellä - подражать - naśladować
the voices(sounds)(tones)(cries)(utterances)(speeches)(languages)
napodobovat - imitārī - يُحاكي
öykünmek - לחקות - meniru
imitare - 模仿 - nachahmen
imitate - अनुकरण - تقلید کردن
of all human beings(a few)( glimpses of what could be )and indeed
the babbling, chit-chattering, stammering of tongues
(a wall of birdsong from the east)
to(m)imitate(mimeisthai)mimitate(sthai)
they know(a few)( glimpses of what could be )
by having seen, all human beings
but each(himself)itself would say,
yous utter, lift up the voice, speak, call out,
are uttering, lifting the voice, speaking, calling out,
to utter lift up the voice, speak, call out
so utter! voice! speak! call out!
thus(to)(for)by(its)thems
the(she)beautiful(o beautiful)song(o song)
they join-fasten-construct-gratify-please-fix-together
the(she)beautiful(o beautiful)song(o song).
πάντων δ᾽ ἀνθρώπων φωνὰς καὶ βαμβαλιαστὺν
μιμεῖσθ᾽ ἴσασιν: φαίη δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἕκαστος
φθέγγεσθ᾽: οὕτω σφιν καλὴσυνάρηρεν ἀοιδή.
but come on,
hes being driven and led, brought and taken, steered and carried-off as by its cause,
yous are keeping and taking and bringing him, like an animal, steering the ship
and leading him on, like fate, you carry him off, as by his cause —
celebrate him, bring him back, keep him in memory, be his cause, you both!
he would be gracious indeed, would lend a gracious ear, Apollo(o Apollo),
Artemis-shows-from-afar, Artemis-dia-xun, Artemis-all-through-together —
but in book 21, Penelope fetches and brings the bow of Odysseus, from its peg,
where it hangs in the shining case that covers it; she promises marriage to the one
who can string the bow and send an arrow — cleanly — through all twelve axes;
Antinoös pretends to be humble, but hes not, and hell be the first to taste the arrow
from the one whom he gives no attention, from the beggars blameless hands; and
Telemachos tries three times to draw the bow; and on his fourth try, he couldve —
but Od gives a sign, so Tel lays low, drawing instead shame on himself, declining
to try again; as Ant leads-on the others to try, in turn; Leodes, son of Oinops,
a diviner, who pronounces the doom of the bow, which will rend many princes
from life and soul; but Ant castigates him, pronouncing his word-song terrible
and shameful; he directs them to heat and wax to bend the bow, and leads-on
the others to try; as the others are trying, and failing, Odysseus conspires
with the oxherd and swineherd; first, he tests and recognizes their infallible
tempers; then he reveals himself, by the scar he took from the boars white tooth;
they weep, and kiss, and embrace, and kiss, their heads and shoulders and hands;
then he makes, with them, his plans; finally, to be given his bow, as the women
lock and bar the suitors in, and themselves, women, outside, that they mustnt
peep, if any of them hears; they must simply sit still
at their work, in silence.
(Odyssey 21.1-239)
but the girls ignore “nobodys” orders not to watch(even if Telemachos
hadnt said not to follow orders, we still wouldnt follow orders);
and the suitors try; and they fail; and Eurymachos speaks the shame of falling so far
short of Ods strength; Ant proposes, saying, “but come, come on,” lets go drink
his wine, and instruct his goatherd to slaughter his goats, and offer them to Apollo —
would a far-working-lord-master be gracious? Od slaughters all of them, even if
they ask for mercy, except for the singer, who was forced, and the herald, who was
loyal. Odysseus asks the old nurse maid to snitch on the women-servants, and she
hands over those who were extra naughty. there happened to be twelve.
Odysseus makes them clean the mess, then orders his son, Telemachos,
to slaughter them:
so there and then he spoke, and(taking)the ships cable(persuasion)of a lapis-
lazuli-prowed(ship), fastening it to a big pillar, he threw it around the rotunda,
aloft making(it)fast, so that none would reach the ground by their feet.
but as when if or thrushes(by thrushes)with long-spread-wings — ah! rock-
pigeons, strike against a fence(o dyad-wall), and theyd stand into the bush,
sending into a roost, but hated showed(indicated)(marked out)(received in-
to ones house, welcome)(entertained, gave ear to, admitted, allowed, took
on-board, to bear patiently, undertook, promised, accepted as responsibility,
received in succession)the(sleep)resting-place(a bed),
as they(shes)at least one-after-another, having and holding(we have and hold,
they have and hold)(their)heads, but on both sides(around)by all(their)throats
nooses(snares for birds)(they)were, so that most pitiable they would die.
but they(we)were panting, gasping, struggling with(their)feet a small little bit
not for any such long(o secretly-dyad-arm-pits)while.
ὣς ἄρ᾽ ἔφη, καὶ πεῖσμα νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
κίονος ἐξάψας μεγάλης περίβαλλε θόλοιο,
ὑψόσ᾽ ἐπεντανύσας, μή τις ποσὶν οὖδας ἵκοιτο.
ὡς δ᾽ ὅτ᾽ ἂν ἢ κίχλαι τανυσίπτεροι ἠὲ πέλειαι
ἕρκει ἐνιπλήξωσι, τό θ᾽ ἑστήκῃ ἐνὶ θάμνῳ,
αὖλιν ἐσιέμεναι, στυγερὸς δ᾽ ὑπεδέξατο κοῖτος,
ὣς αἵ γ᾽ ἑξείης κεφαλὰς ἔχον, ἀμφὶ δὲ πάσαις
δειρῇσι βρόχοι ἦσαν, ὅπως οἴκτιστα θάνοιεν.
ἤσπαιρον δὲ πόδεσσι μίνυνθά περ οὔ τι μάλα δήν.
(Odyssey 22.465-473)
(then they treat Melanthios to something ugly, which we skip - then)
they(indeed, it was imminent)thereupon washed off(their)hands and feet
into(you are)Odysseus house they went(we are)(going), but he had finished
(accomplished)(executed)(performed)the work;
nevertheless he(Od)at least spoke-through to the beloved nurse(who nourishes)
Eurykleia;
“bring brimstone(the divine)(o divine brimstone), old woman, remedy of evils,
but bring(to)(for)by me fire, so that (we)would(we will)purify(hallow)(con-
secrate)(you are purified)the large room(great hall, womens apartment, bed-
chamber, sanctuary, shrine, tomb); but you order Penelope to come(go)hither
(thither)with(her)busied-about(handmaids)(attendants)(waiting-)women;
οἱ μὲν ἔπειτ᾽ ἀπονιψάμενοι χεῖράς τε πόδας τε
εἰς Ὀδυσῆα δόμονδε κίον, τετέλεστο δὲ ἔργον:
480αὐτὰρ ὅ γε προσέειπε φίλην τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν:
‘οἶσε θέειον, γρηΰ, κακῶν ἄκος, οἶσε δέ μοι πῦρ,
ὄφρα θεειώσω μέγαρον: σὺ δὲ Πηνελόπειαν
ἐλθεῖν ἐνθάδ᾽ ἄνωχθι σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξί:
but all(you sprinkle)(sprinkling)(you stir up, encourage)(they were stirring)we
were stirring-up(and encouraging)fem-slaves to go(to heap and pile-up)against
through(to)the house.
but the beloved nurse(she who nourishes)Eurykleia again to him spoke-through;
“yes(it was binding)(it was needful)(need and bind)(need, you)(dyad-of-the-god)(bind,
you)at least these, o my child, all you said was against(through)according
to portion(destiny)(part)(share)(lot)(that which is meet and right)(order)(due-
measure)(fate).
but come(she leads, carries, brings)(lead, carry, fetch, bring, you)we would carry
(you carry)(you send in)(to)(for)by you a cloak(blanket)and tunic clothes,
and not this way by rags(having-being-)covered broad(far-reaching)shoulders
(she had been set)(yous had made a stand)(yous have made, make a stand!)(she
has been set)(you)make a stand in the big rooms(womens apartments)(shrines);
but(it would be)(she lets, she suffers)(let, you)(suffer, you)reprehensible.
πάσας δ᾽ ὄτρυνον δμῳὰς κατὰ δῶμα νέεσθαι.
’ 485τὸν δ᾽ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια:
‘ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε, τέκνον ἐμόν, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.
ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε τοι χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματ᾽ ἐνείκω,
μηδ᾽ οὕτω ῥάκεσιν πεπυκασμένος εὐρέας ὤμους
ἕσταθ᾽ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι: νεμεσσητὸν δέ κεν εἴη.
but exchanging-replies-from her, polymetis(many-measured, many-skilled,
many-counseled, many-plans)Odysseus was speaking-through;
“fire now(to)(for)by me firstest(o firstest)in the big rooms, become-it."
τὴν δ᾽ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς:
‘πῦρ νῦν μοι πρώτιστον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γενέσθω.'
so he said(yous say), and not even did beloved nurse(she who nourishes)Eurykleia
disobey, but(she)brought(bore)(carried)(they had sent up and forth)(sprung up)(let-
go)(set free)(loosened)(unfastened)(stirred-up)(urged-on)(caused a wind to blow)
then and there fire and(the divine)brimstone; nevertheless Odysseus well fumigated
(purified)(hallowed)the big room and the house and courtyard.
ὣς ἔφατ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ἀπίθησε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια,
ἤνεικεν δ᾽ ἄρα πῦρ καὶ θήϊον: αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
εὖ διεθείωσεν μέγαρον καὶ δῶμα καὶ αὐλήν.
but the old woman again went off through the beautiful house of beautiful Odysseus
will-announcing(bearing, carrying, delivering, passing-on, relaying)(a message,
news, information, a command, instructions)and by women will-stirring-up(rousing,
egging-on, spurring-on, encouraging)to go(to heap and pile-up); but(shes)they knew
(they were going and coming)(equal)out of the big room(shrine), having and holding
(o havings and holdings)torches(between)(among)(belonging to)
the(ir) — igniting the fire — hands.
γρηῢς δ᾽ αὖτ᾽ ἀπέβη διὰ δώματα κάλ᾽ Ὀδυσῆος
ἀγγελέουσα γυναιξὶ καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι:
αἱ δ᾽ ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι.
(shes)they indeed, there and then, were being-poured(shed)around(embracing)
and welcoming kindly(saluting)(greeting)(receiving with joy)(cleaving to)Odysseus,
and(shameless)(they-shes)were kissing(we were kissing)will-showing-affection(o
will-be-loving)the head and shoulders(and upper arms)and taking-hold(o taking-
hold of)hands;
but(him)the sweet longing was capturing(grasping)(seizing)(winning)(gaining)
overcoming)(proving)him of weeping(lamentation)and of wailing(groaning)(sighs),
but there and then, he recognized(perceived)(came to know)(recognize, you!)
by phren(hearts-middles-minds)(the women)(you are sprinkling)(o
sprinkling)(o weaving-in)(with pharmakon)all(the women).
(we)look how brightly we burn —
αἱ μὲν ἄρ᾽ ἀμφεχέοντο καὶ ἠσπάζοντ᾽ Ὀδυσῆα,
καὶ κύνεον ἀγαπαξόμεναι κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὤμους
χεῖράς τ᾽ αἰνύμεναι: τὸν δὲ γλυκὺς ἵμερος ᾕρει
κλαυθμοῦ καὶ στοναχῆς, γίγνωσκε δ᾽ ἄρα φρεσὶ πάσας.
Odyssey, the rest of book xxii)
ἀλλ᾽ ἄγεθ᾽ ἱλήκοι μὲν Ἀπόλλων Ἀρτέμιδιξύν,
but all yous rejoice, all yous are rejoicing, rejoice all yous(get it, you!),
and we just burned out your eyes?
but(behind)me(you would be thrown up)and(indeed)from behind(in the rear)
you(all)remember, to remember, remember(all)you,
whenever someone amongst earth-dwelling(across-the-earth)(chthonos)human
beings, by accustomed-familiar,
would fasten-on(would be fastened-to)(he would string-through)(would
be strung-through)(and he would inquire-of and question)
the stranger(guest-friend)(wanderer)(host)(foreigner)(refugee)(mercenary
soldier)much-suffering(talapeirios)(man),
coming and going(o comes-and-goes)(o whereto and wherefrom);
χαίρετε δ᾽ ὑμεῖς πᾶσαι: ἐμεῖο δὲ καὶ μετόπισθεν (Od?)
μνήσασθ᾽, ὁππότε κέν τις ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων (Od?)
ἐθάδ᾽ ἁνείρηται ξεῖνος ταλαπείριος ἐλθών: (Od?)
O girls, but who(which)(what)by yous the man the most pleasant and merry,
sweetly and welcome, balmy, refreshing, gladly and heartily content,
amongst the singers(minstrels)(bards)of songs,
(here)there(goes)(he)goes-up-and-down(and to-and-fro)(and
hes offered for sale),
and(indeed)by which-who are yous most being(be satisfied! delighted!
and gladdened! and cheered!)satisfied, delighted, gladdened, and cheered?
ὦ κοῦραι, τίς δ᾽ ὔμμιν ἀνὴρ ἥδιστος ἀοιδῶν
ἐνθάδε πωλεῖται, καὶ τέῳ τέρπεσθε μάλιστα;
but all-yous(o dyad-arm-pits, dyad-underhanded, dyad-secrets)very-
well-all(get it, yous!)to reply(interpret)(as dreams)(explain)(speak
in dialogue)(deliver)(play, pretend, deceive)(answer)as
the(a-phemos)(un-famous)un-known —
ὑμεῖς δ᾽ εὖ μάλα πᾶσαι ὑποκρίνασθαι ἀφήμως: (Od?)
“(a)blind(dark, dim, obscure)(closed, with no outlet)(tight)(dark, trackless)(un-
escapable)man,
but he is living(in-habits)in(you are being-lived-in)(by a roommate, a house-
servant, a serf)(to)(for)by-rugged-Chios-in(hes being-
present-and-possible-in)(her rugged)
whose(songs)(o songs)(o spells, o incantations)(our-bitches-chew)from
behind(in the rear!)would be best(by beings best)(they will be best)(songs
whos).
τυφλὸς ἀνήρ, οἰκεῖ δὲ Χίῳ ἔνι παιπαλοέσσῃ
τοῦ μᾶσαι μετόπισθεν ἀριστεύσουσιν ἀοιδαί.
we(but we)will bring(bear, carry, draw along, fetch, carry off)your(o
your)news(rumor, report, repute, fame, renown, glory),
howsoever far as across the land(earth)(of human beings)we are twisted
and turned(rotated, upset, deflected, guided, veered, tortured, braided, re-
plied, returned, given back, converted, revolving in circles, turned
and changed, engaged, wheeling about)
the(well-dwelling)cities(o cities)of human beings(you go about, range-
over, haunt)(of human beings)well-dwelling;
ἡμεῖς δ᾽ ὑμέτερον κλέος οἴσομεν, ὅσσον ἐπ᾽ αἶαν
ἀνθρώπων στρεφόμεσθα πόλεις εὖ ναιεταώσας:
they(but they)(upon)across(in fact)(it was needful)(it was binding)
(need, you)(dyad-of-the-god)(bind, you)
they will suffer(undergo, endure, have laid-upon-them, being called-upon to bear,
have-happen to them, being treated, affected, feeling, with passion, being acted-
upon, receive benefits, hard experience, punishment, and enjoy)
and they will be persuaded(won over, prevailed upon, urged successfully, brought
over, induced to believe)(they will yield, believe-in, be convinced)(they
will trust, rely upon, have confidence-in, be emboldened),
and indeed, since you already are following-upon the dyad-word-song,
its(we-being)true.
οἳ δ᾽ ἐπὶ δὴ πείσονται, ἐπεὶ καὶ ἐτήτυμόν ἐστιν.
nevertheless i(we!)will not cease(you wouldnt be ceased)(singing! celebrating! over
and over again)Apollo who throws-
from-afar, singing(o singing)with(our)silver bow,
whom lovely-haired(she, Leto)(behold!)(seize!)produced(you produce,
too!)into the world, Leto.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν οὐ λήξω ἑκηβόλον Ἀπόλλωνα
ὑμνέων ἀργυρότοξον, ὃν ἠύκομος τέκε Λητώ.
from hymn 3 to Apollo
(dog-we, of burning-nose, may need
another 4-day cycle
or we-dog lifetime
to go back and fill
more in)
.~.
fog of nine parts over twelve days (2/3 and 7 or 8/12 = 2/3)
but they(goddesses, wobbly)send Iris(rainbow)forward well-built from the island(this
island)to(will)(lead)(carry)fetch(bring)(to-will-break and shiver
the waves)(to find yalls secret notes)(seized be?)
Eileithuia(mogis-postokos),
(they)(holding under)(as of hands to receive)(or a cup)(or lending ears)(supplying,
affording, furnishing)(upholding, supporting)(sustaining)(maintaining)(taking
upon themselves)(undertaking)(professing)a great chain(necklace)
(wreath)(anchorage)
(shelter),
by golden(gold mines)threads of flax having(asking)(speaking)(fastening
together), nine cubits broad;
as broad as Priams yoke, which he prepares to go beg for his son Hektors
body from Achilles; and his wife, Hekabe, she carries kind, sweet wine,
advises him to pray and look
for signs of birds;
and he agrees
to ask the god for mercy.
αἳ δ᾽ Ἶριν προὔπεμψαν ἐυκτιμένης ἀπὸ νήσου,
ἀξέμεν Εἰλείθυιαν, ὑποσχόμεναι μέγαν ὅρμον,
χρυσείοισι λίνοισιν ἐερμένον, ἐννεάπηχυν:
but absent(aloof)(apart)(they were commanding)(we are commanding)(to beauty-
summon)(call)Hera of the white arms,
truly(they are flowing)(flow, you)(they are swimming)(swim, you)(they are spin-
ning)(spin, you)(they are heaping- and piling-up the thread)(you all
would be)thereupon(she approaches)(has)(had been sat upon)(had sent)
(has sent)(you all would send)(she had been put-on)(she has
been put-on)by the word-songs, she will-to-be-read
like a book, she would twist-and-turn-
back(going of goings)(coming
of comings)(being
of beings).
νόσφιν δ᾽ ἤνωγον καλέειν λευκωλένου Ἥρης,
νή μιν ἔπειτ᾽ ἐπέεσσιν ἀποστρέψειεν ἰοῦσαν.
nevertheless(since)(you are)(approaching)(the dyad-word-song)Iris, swift-footed-
as-the-wind, hears this at least,
(baaa)(sheep-sound)(!!)she walks, then(i will snarl)(easy, rhubarbed)(i
will sprinkle)she runs(to shine)
(to gaze),
but quickly(swiftly)(fleet)she(o Pan)(o all)accomplish all(o all)(o Pan)
the(rainbows)middle. (did she? she tries, a problem is, if she
starts reading Homer, she doesnt stop, its the best wine
however she needs to go to imigrasi
tomorrow morning
baaa)
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γ᾽ ἄκουσε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις,
βῆ ῥα θέειν, ταχέως δὲ διήνυσε πᾶν τὸ μεσηγύ.
nevertheless(since)(you are)(approaching)(the dyad-word-song), then she
(running)(shining)(gleaming)reaches the seat of gods(and goddesses)
(of seeing ones)(of looking-at)(of aspects)(they were gazing)
(we were gazing)(o gazing one)(upon)
high and steep(sheer)(utter)Olympos,
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ᾽ ἵκανε θεῶν ἕδος, αἰπὺν Ὄλυμπον,
at once, then(they were sowing seeds)(o bow-drill)(o shrine)(o carpenters auger)
(by bane and ruin)(anxiety, impatience)(indentations from teeth)(on the inside
of my cheek, she will snarl)(she will snarl, I’m still the same old me)(you
will be snarled)(but you would pray)(and see)(now)(you pray)
(she raises up)(we raise up)(be raised-up, you)
(o prayers)(by prayer)(to flowers)(o lords-
and-ladies)(o jacks-in-the-pulpit)
(o ylang-ylang),
out the door of the great hall, beauty-summoning-out-forth-Eileithuia(she
that comes in need)(we were)winged-word-songs(lines and verses)(o
winged-poetries)she is voicing-through,
o all, very(o yellow)(distemper of asses)(white-tailed)(apple)(arm-
pits)like we were enjoining(cheering on!)the Olympic houses,
(o all)the having-and-holding(feminine).
αὐτίκ᾽ ἄρ᾽ Εἰλείθυιαν ἀπὲκ μεγάροιο θύραζε
ἐκπροκαλεσσαμένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα,
πάντα μάλ᾽, ὡς ἐπέτελλον Ὀλύμπια δώματ᾽ ἔχουσαι.
but by it, then and there, she is persuading the thumos(heart-spirit-courage)in
their beloved breasts;
but(going)they go on foot, their steps resembling timorous(trembling)(shy)
rock-pigeons. (why would goddesses
go like that?)
τῇ δ᾽ ἄρα θυμὸν ἔπειθεν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισι:
βὰν δὲ ποσὶ τρήρωσι πελειάσιν ἴθμαθ᾽ ὁμοῖαι.
when Eileithuia mogos-postokos(of toils and travails of birth)sets foot upon Delos(o
dyad-divine)(it was binding)(bind, you)(need, you)(it was needful)then
and there, childbirth seizes hold of her.
and there and then, she is scared and shaking; she is spinning
and swimming, imagining again and again
all the whats it means;
but she(in thought-purpose-spirit-courage-power-force-violence)desires
to give(be given)birth.
εὖτ᾽ ἐπὶ Δήλου ἔβαινε μογοστόκος Εἰλείθυια,
δὴ τότε τὴν τόκος εἷλε, μενοίνησεν δὲ τεκέσθαι.
but still she doesnt understand, struggles to comprehend, spinning
and swimming, mind inside-out and upside-down, losing
stability;
but around the palm tree(phoenix)(purple or crimson)(she)throws(throw, you)
(cast)(hurl, let fall, strike, touch)(her and your)two arms(double-
horns of the lyre)(o dyad-bow-joining)(o dyad
of the lyre)(o double-rainbow).
with-and-without the news(it helps)shes tempesting
or going numb;
but the knees she plants(will plant)firmly on the soft(tender)
(gentle)(mild)meadow(yielding)grassy place
(of flowers)(blooming)
(yoni);
she keeps collapsing into tears;
but the earth(o earth)(by earth)smiles beneath her.
ἀμφὶ δὲ φοίνικι βάλε πήχεε, γοῦνα δ᾽ ἔρεισε
λειμῶνι μαλακῷ: μείδησε δὲ γαῖ᾽ ὑπένερθεν:
and still, she isnt you-know-who;
but out(which)leaps(springs)(rushes)(darts)(attacks)(do it)into the light of day;
ἐκ δ᾽ ἔθορε πρὸ φόωσδε:
and she feels dizzy, nauseous, a broken rubber-band, and two beloved(black)hens
die overnight; Grace, staunch and protective mother, and Sweetie, most willful
and brave, and both too clever for their own good, succumb to wounds sustained
when snuck-out of their separate pen, being-set-upon and overwhelmed
by roosters; and she doesnt know why, she cant stop tears
about the event, their spirits being o, so dear,
and gone, and who in the hungering
world, to grieve the loss
of two like them;
and three(four)days ago, when it first said chresterion, then and there(deep)blue(ultra-
marine)Javan kingfisher, Halcyon cyanoventris, lands on a jepun tree;
she writes it then she crosses it out; cause its not like shes the best
at parsing verbs or nouns in ancient greek; and how
dare she believe the unbelievable; and how
hardly she feels its not her right;
and yesterday as she eats lunch, in treetops over-looking Campuhan pura-river-
ravine, red rice, tempe, arugula, miso-sesame, but hard to swallow for lack
of appetite, a green imperial pigeon, pergam hijau, flip-flaps onto a branch
nearby (where she lives are not a lot of windows, as living-space
is mostly outside), and if she sees it, and believes, she feels
not brave, but being-swallowed
in a world of signs;
but the goddesses(you run)(you shine)(you gaze)(she would gaze)(you would be put
in place)(by looking at)(by contemplation)(by the sight)shouted and cried
in EXULTED ULULATIONS —
aiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaieeeeeeeeeiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiiiiiiiii
all of them(o all)(o-whole-feminine)together.
θεαὶ δ᾽ ὀλόλυξαν ἅπασαι.
from hymn 3 to Apollo
fog of nine parts over twelve days (1/2 and 5/9)
)otherwise, if(you go)(you come)(you are)by me, you would suffer
(submit)(dare)at least, o goddess(o dyad-of-goddesses)
(dyad-of-looking)(dyad-in-contemplation)(dyad-as-spec-
tacle)(dyad-in-performance)(they gaze)(we gaze)(gaze, you)
to swear a mighty oath(she, PENELOPE-testing, would swear)(be sworn):
ἀλλ᾽ εἴ μοι τλαίης γε, θεά, μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι:
have(it)be known now, by these(dyad)Gaia(-EARTH)and Ouranos(SKY)far-
reaching(setting higher)(erect)(carrying over)(transposing)(crossing-
holding-handing-over)(forming a superlative)from above,
and by the downward-flowing water of the STYX, be it the greatest
and most deinos(terrible)(wondrous)(strange)(clever)(braiding-
braided)oath(it draws near)(draw near, you)(you come-
into-being)by blessed gods;
and by your hallowed(serpent)head and(indeed)our own marriage-bed, a living
tree, by which we wouldnt ever swear in vain; we look at you
with softening eyes;
ἴστω νῦν τόδε γαῖα καὶ οὐρανὸς εὐρὺς ὕπερθε
καὶ τὸ κατειβόμενον Στυγὸς ὕδωρ, ὅς τε μέγιστος
ὅρκος δεινότατός τε πέλει μακάρεσσι θεοῖσι,
σή θ᾽ ἱερὴ κεφαλὴ καὶ νωΐτερον λέχος αὐτῶν
κουρίδιον, τὸ μὲν οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ ποτε μὰψ ὀμόσαιμι:
(Iliad 15.36)
thither-hither, her the destined-first, to make-build-prepare
an all-around-beautiful temple(ship-like)dwelling,
to be an oracle(CHRESTERION)of human beings,
(and)nevertheless thereafter, to be made-built-prepared
temple(ship-like)dwellings, and sacred groves(with tree-
like markings)of growth, upon all human beings,
after(you are)(you come upon)(the dyad-word-song),
(she was saying)(or)(beingly)in truth(WE)
a many-named-one(POLYOMONOS)
shall be.
ἐνθάδε μιν πρῶτον τεύξειν περικαλλέα νηὸν
ἔμμεναι ἀνθρώπων χρηστήριον, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
τεύξασθαι νηούς τε καὶ ἄλσεα δενδρηέντα
πάντας ἐπ᾽ ἀνθρώπους, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολυώνυμος ἔσται.
thus, there and then, she(DELOS)was saying; but LETO(behold)(seize)
(of aspects)(running)(shining)of goddesses(of gods)
swore a mighty oath;
ὣς ἄρ ἔφη: Λητὼ δὲ θεῶν μέγαν ὅρκον ὄμοσσε:
have(it)be known now, by these(dyad)Gaia(-EARTH)and Ouranos(SKY)far-
reaching(setting higher)(erect)(carrying over)(transposing)(crossing-
holding-handing-over)(forming a superlative)from above,
and by the downward-flowing water of the STYX, be it the greatest
and most deinos(terrible)(wondrous)(strange)(clever)(braiding-
braided)oath(it draws near)(draw near, you)(you come-
into-being)by blessed gods;
ἴστω νῦν τάδε Γαῖα καὶ Οὐρανὸς εὐρὺς ὕπερθεν
καὶ τὸ κατειβόμενον Στυγὸς ὕδωρ, ὅστε μέγιστος
ὅρκος δεινότατός τε πέλει μακάρεσσι θεοῖσιν:
(she was saying)(or)(beingly)(WE are)in-truth(the moon)
of PHOIBOS(of the radiant)(purify)(youre purifying)by this(here, thus)
wood-resin-smoke of dupa, and flowers of ylang-ylang,
it will always be an altar and sacred precinct;
but(it would)(will pay a price)(you will be paid)(by retribution)(-dyad)
you will be honored(it will honor)(will always be asking ‘what?')
you at least(both)outstanding(and preeminent)among all,
and you don’t even know.
ἦ μὴν Φοίβου τῇδε θυώδης ἔσσεται αἰεὶ
βωμὸς καὶ τέμενος, τίσει δέ σέ γ᾽ ἔξοχα πάντων.
nevertheless, since(by the dyad-word-song)(you set upon)(you approach)
there and then, it swears(will-swear-to-fulfill)and it accomplishes(brings
to pass)(finishes)the oath;
DELOS(indeed)(on the one hand)very(arm-pits-like-white-tailed-apples)was
rejoicing(rejoice!)by the begetter(by the daughter)(she begets)(you are begotten)
of the from-afar(hekatos)(spring-drawn)lord;
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ᾽ ὄμοσέν τε τελεύτησέν τε τὸν ὅρκον,
Δῆλος μὲν μάλα χαῖρε γονῇ ἑκάτοιο ἄνακτος:
but(on the other hand)LETO(behold)(seize)(her dyad)for nine days and nine(spending
youth)(senseless)nights beyond hope(you wouldnt have hope)by un-hoped-
for pangs(throes and travails)she had been pierced.
but(all)goddesses(you run)(you shine)(you gaze)(she would gaze)(you would be put in place)
(by looking at)(by contemplation)(by the sight)were being within(at home)by all(be got,
you)(to sprinkle)(she would sprinkle)(be sprinkled)(as with salt or pharmakon)(eat,
drink, partake, you);
Λητὼ δ᾽ ἐννῆμάρ τε καὶ ἐννέα νύκτας ἀέλπτοις
ὠδίνεσσι πέπαρτο. θεαὶ δ᾽ ἔσαν ἔνδοθι πᾶσαι,
they were(they would)(she would)(you would allow)(by allowing)
as great as the best(they and you would go eat brunch)(best meal),
and DIONE and RHEIA(she would flow and you are flowing)
and ICHNAIOS(following the track)and THEMIS(as its right to do)
and(indeed)much-groaning AMPHITRITE and other immortals, except
for HERA of the white arms, aloof(absent)(apart)(in her home);
ὅσσαι ἄρισται ἔασι, Διώνη τε Ῥείη τε
Ἰχναίη τε Θέμις καὶ ἀγάστονος Ἀμφιτρίτη
ἄλλαι τ᾽ ἀθάναται νόσφιν λευκωλένου Ἥρης:
for she had been seated in the(heavenly)halls of Zeus-cloud-gatherer,
and speaking(we are upon)the winged-word-songs(she)was speaking-through;
ἧστο γὰρ ἐν μεγάροισι Διὸς νεφεληγερέταο,
καί μιν φωνήσασ᾽ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:
(Iliad 15.36)
have(it)be known now, by these(dyad)Gaia(-EARTH)and Ouranos(SKY)far-
reaching(setting higher)(erect)(carrying over)(transposing)(crossing-
holding-handing-over)(forming a superlative)from above,
and by the downward-flowing water of the STYX, be it the greatest
and most deinos(terrible)(wondrous)(strange)(clever)(braiding-
braided)oath(it draws near)(draw near, you)(you come-
into-being)by blessed gods;
ἴστω νῦν τόδε γαῖα καὶ οὐρανὸς εὐρὺς ὕπερθε
καὶ τὸ κατειβόμενον Στυγὸς ὕδωρ, ὅς τε μέγιστος
ὅρκος δεινότατός τε πέλει μακάρεσσι θεοῖσι,
(three tries by KALYPSO)not any(to)(for)(by)yourself bad misery will-
to-devise another;
not another-bad-misery will-to-devise another-bad-misery(to)(for)(by)yourself;
that no more bad blues will devise bad blues
by your own self; we look at you
with softening eyes.
μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο.
(Odyssey 5.184)
but the only one who hadnt heard(learned)was EILEITHUIA(mogis-postokos)
of toils-and-travails of birth;
μούνη δ᾽ οὐκ ἐπέπυστο μογοστόκος Εἰλείθυια:
for she had been seated by the highest-extreme-peak of OLYMPOS, under golden clouds,
of prudent white-armed HERA, where she was restraining(restrain, you)her
in jealousy(and zeal),
when(which)(that)there and then the blameless and steadfast child
LETO(behold)(seize)(her dyad)will beget, of beautiful(deinos)braids of hair,
at that time was(imminently)destined(and about to do).
ἧστο γὰρ ἄκρῳ Ὀλύμπῳ ὑπὸ χρυσέοισι νέφεσσιν,
Ἥρης φραδμοσύνης λευκωλένου, ἥ μιν ἔρυκε
ζηλοσύνῃ, ὅτ᾽ ἄρ᾽ υἱὸν ἀμύμονά τε κρατερόν τε
Λητὼ τέξεσθαι καλλιπλόκαμος τότ᾽ ἔμελλεν.
from hymn 3 to Apollo
kago akousas (fourth days) in kudianerotesia
another day confined, the dog
paces the gate, listening for
her long-absent master. but who
should she come home to meet,
reunion of the heart. and how
should we survive the relation.
not because its in a book,
but because its in our blood,
we know the end of Argos.
and i, at least, am struck by wonder.
i break and shiver. in dreams woven
these underwater syllables.
i weigh, as it were a ratio: our three,
your four. i hold, on fourth days
the dog takes rest.
when hearing, o hearing, i hear
of being silent involuntary
from beings silent involuntary.
κἀγὼ
ἀκούσας
(the first fourth happening
tomorrow)
mogis pos
zero-act play with a false sonnet
(by the window, plush elephant withheld)
leash-lady: play dead.
dog: what a world! what a world.
leash-lady: no, for real. play dead.
(dog reads Shakespeare)
leash-lady: so?
dog: i wrote a poem.
leash-lady: uh-oh. whats it called?
dog: “a sonnet grows askant the brook”
(leash-lady snorts, un-lady-like)
dog: (clears throat)
Our juggled heads as dog and bone,
Ophelias hair and Hamlets one;
Keep Sycorax far from Prospero,
For Mirandas mobile merciful;
My tears, lit years, rage Lears at me,
For Gloucester sees me feelingly;
His daughters blew askant the brook,
His book mere nook til soul partook;
But theres one king, be Yorrick, we,
Dissolves mine-own got-sovereignty.
We run as we run into poetry,
We run as we run through the willow.
(waits indefinitely for applause)
leash-lady: dont you dare make me say it.
dog: (proudly) doggerel!
leash-lady: (painting her nails) im going to need
more of a conceptual diagram.
dog: no.
leash-lady: (with stern look) but no
one else will. no one
else will.
dog: (puzzled) where have i heard that line before . . .
(begins speaking as an aside) and how
is she so good at this? how does she
know to do all of this? and why
is everybody looking at me,
when shes always been
far more interesting
and beautiful
than i?
leash-lady: (rolls her eyes) draw.
(she hands a piece of chalk to dog, who,
after much protestation, reluctantly in-
stantiates a blackboard.)
dog: okay. (takes a deep breath, narrows
eyes, retrieves scent-memory) as we
discover, we being irreducible —
(dog draws a big circle on the board.)
leash-lady: thats they, not we.
(leash-lady goes to the board and draws
two dots.)
dog: (wide-eyed and paws in the air) o indeed are we
suspended here, in a moment of separation.
and i imagine, i imagine, o in my imagination,
the purpose, our purpose, here might be,
to show the impossibility of egoistic
or abstracted or formulaic or activity-
independent explanation or even
any non-relational, un-
adaptive, a-
temporal
mode
or method
of expression.
leash-lady: explanation of what?
dog: us.
leash-lady: so anyway. here we are, two
dots, and the world, or chaos, on the out-
side, is here. right? “no exit”, like Sartre.
dog: i, at least, dont think thats the worst
analogy, but our performance feels text-
urally different from a play? like, more
chewy? more of a chew-toy?
leash-lady: hence the drool.
(dog looks sheepish)
leash-lady: nevermind. so about the pharmakon,
is this like, we party while the world
is burning? drugs and booze?
and opiates . . . wouldnt be
the worst thing.
dog: (whimpers, glances askant)
leash-lady: ah yes, the elephant in the room.
(dog howls)
leash-lady: come on, spit it out.
(dog paws face)
leash-lady: or youll never see your precious
little elephant again! at the blackboard! go!
dog: (sighs deeply, erases dots) okay. forget
the dots.
leash-lady: thats too bad. the dots seemed happy.
dog: well, appearances can be deceiving. no,
the dots were just high. on a different drug.
thats not the kind of drug we have.
i mean, that we are.
leash-lady: wait, how can we be the drug?
i never agreed to that!
dog: (depressed) i hate existentialism. really
i do.
leash-lady: draw, dog!
dog: (takes up chalk dutifully) so heres
a circle, imagine its a sphere. let this, we,
be we.
leash-lady: all smooth and even like that, huh?
dog: (looks at circle, which has been unevenly
drawn) well, what do you expect from a dog?
leash-lady: continue.
dog: (defensively) im just a dog, not
an elephant, or even
an elephant expert.
leash-lady: (aside) clearly. (out-
loud) draw!
dog: so at the moment, we are testing the limits
of the elephant. we are, as you indicate, pretty
bipolar.
leash-lady: okay. so the imaginary sphere
has poles. arent those
like dots?
dog: we being the poles, of a spherical field —
leash-lady: a field, like of grass?
dog: not like a meadow field. like a magnetic
field, like Faraday. we are meaning, like
a magnetic field.
leash-lady: so?
dog: its just, like, kaleidoscopic, like (sniffs
the air) correspondances,
leash-lady: not now, with the french. not
now, with the Baudelaire.
(dog in feelings)
leash-lady: sober up, dog. draw more.
dog: okay. right now, we are suspended from the act.
and time, without activity, loses its field of relation. so,
were a little stuck. you versus i, master versus slave,
but like, a friendlier version. i hope.
have you ever read Hegel?
leash-lady: (face in hands) why is this my life . . .
dog: yes, sorry, sorry, sorry. dont read Hegel.
please, go take a very long nap instead.
(aside) an ex used to say she had Platon-
gefühl. he was a Hegelian.
leash-lady: (sternly) i can hear you. and how
is that relevant?
dog: because it brings up, like vomit — have you
noticed that occasional feeling of nausea
we have?
leash-lady: yes, and? have you been eating beach-
poo again?
dog: (sighs) i miss the beach.
leash-lady: im about to close the ipad screen.
draw!
dog: yes, where was i . . . oh, the memory. and
the remembering. its relevant because all
of this evokes in me a very strange
mixture
of feelings.
leash-lady: feelings? (frowns) is this just
about feelings? is this —
a kissing book?
dog: yes, and —
leash-lady: is it just a distraction, just
a feel-good movie, just
to pass the time, soft
and comfy-like,
amidst
(gestures out the window)
this chaos?
dog: (tired) not quite, i imagine, judging by what
weve undergone, so far, at least. to me, it feels
kind of like . . . some kind of animal
exercise . . . (trails off, wags tail)
leash-lady: wait. you mean you don’t know?
dog: of course not!
leash-lady: (exasperated) then why on earth
would you be dragging us
through all of this?
(puppy-dog eyes)
leash-lady: what does it feel like then?
dog: oh, so so much. hope, then terror, then joy,
then grief, then wonder, then joy, then funny,
then grief, then terror, then pain,
then wonder, then sorrow,
then hope . . .
(dog chases own tail)
leash-lady: it seems awfully ego-gratifying
for supposedly being ego-death.
(dog barks)
leash-lady: bad dog.
dog: yes, well. funny you should say that. ive
not gotten here by being very clever, you see.
leash-lady: again, with the all-about-you. what
about we? spit it out!
dog: (adjusts glasses) okay. my current theory, if
you forced me, would be that we are some kind
of cosmic
heart
muscle.
(cringes all-around)
dog: youre the one who made me draw a diagram!
leash-lady: im not, actually.
dog: then who —
leash-lady: dont yell at me.
dog: okay. im sorry, ill try not to.
leash-lady: thank you. anyway, what does it,
what do they, as we, do?
dog: we do, like this —
(dog waves paws around the blackboard
in a very un-doglike manner, wags
tail and whines
like a dog)
leash-lady: clarifying absolutely nothing. ok,
quick, cause this is getting very long, and i can tell
you could go on forever. if were bi-
polar, what are our poles?
dog: well, heres the not-so-easy part. my sense is
we-will-worker-bees through many situationships.
and we have many things yet to learn about us.
leash-lady: there seems to be a great deal
of repetition. will there be more
of that? repetition?
dog: probably. but some of the grand
patterns seem to be something like,
death versus insanity?
despair versus mania?
tragedy versus comedy?
love versus grief?
leash-lady: that sounds very dark. are you
okay?
(dog labels the circle with polarities,
triangles, vectors, and other notation.)
leash-lady: wheres the chaos, didnt
you say you were
a chaotician?
dog: (looks up, tilts head) geometrician. im
a geometrician. (barks in Kuna Greek)
leash-lady: who deals with the chaos, then?
dog: (shrugs) dunno, maybe cats.
leash-lady: but those things you wrote,
about love and death, et cetera, they
seem mostly like antagonisms.
i thought dog was mans best friend.
dog: yes. and like everybody in Hamlet,
they, or we, remain terribly resolved, solips-
sismuses, abysmal ones, destined —
leash-lady: doomed?
dog: yes —
leash-lady: tragic?
dog: — at least, until we —
leash-lady: if we, you mean.
dog: yes! if and until we, as whoever we are,
enact and express them —
leash-lady: which are, psychic-cosmic abysms?
dog: — yes, through our own
relation. dialectical mediation,
if you will.
leash-lady: Hegel again?
dog: (frowns) more OG than that.
leash-lady: meaning?
(dog jumps through the circle on the black-
board, which has caught on fire, as if
it were a hoop)
(leash-lady waits)
(dog jumps back out)
leash-lady: and you wont find it in a text-
book — why?
dog: no. yes. because the plushie (points nose
at elephant) was made to be un-chewable, or
inedible, in any other way than by how we
are partaking of it, or really, partaking
through it, if we were being we,
not you and i, as we seem
to be being
now.
leash-lady: you mean to say . . . it can only
be read as a we?
dog: (dreamily) my plushie can only be chewed by love.
leash-lady: that strikes me as —
dog: fuck patriarchy!
leash-lady: — as astoundingly unlikely.
dog: (rolls over)
leash-lady: that seems almost . . . post-modern.
almost avant garde . . . or is it
a religious thing?
dog: (tongue out) were classics now, baby!
leash-lady: (winces) okay dog, continue.
dog: but im scared. (whines)
leash-lady: well, i believe in you.
and i believe you can do it.
because ive seen you do it.
and it doesnt have to be perfect,
but it does have to be you. so,
dog,
do.
dog: (after receiving much encouragement) okay.
only as we, can the plushie, and so it seems,
the entire elephant corpus, be sniffed-out
and un-dug —
leash-lady: and eaten?
dog: well i, at least, try
to eat everything i find.
leash-lady: aha. but tell me, why
would an elephant be made
in this way, as strange
to eat, as this one?
dog: survival.
leash-lady: but why is it a plush elephant, at all?
dog: i dunno, being neither elephant, nor plushie.
but being a dog, i suppose it wants to be a good
guardian. maybe, the plushie protects itself
from self-serve, self-serving eating.
leash-lady: intriguing. almost like how
an elephant wouldnt wish
to be eaten.
dog: well, its not potatoes!
leash-lady: (laughs) but i am questions
inside questions . . .
dog: also, maybe it protects the souls of dogs
by never letting we-dogs get stuck in soliloquy.
leash-lady: like Hamlet?
dog: (frowns) or graveyard clowns . . .
leash-lady: dont get discouraged. draw.
(dog motions at the flaming circle on the board)
dog: so, if it-we pulls us-two out of madnesses
that wait at either of our two poles, then
even as were bipolar, we even us out.
leash-lady: in our relational field.
dog: and because it binds us with each-
other, it also becomes, so-
to-speak, a poetry-self-
guardian — or even,
a guard dog. like
dog-school, but
like poetry,
for we.
leash-lady: ironic.
dog: whats irony?
leash-lady: that im here guarding
the guardian plushie
from the guard dog.
(puppy-dog eyes)
leash-lady: now let me guess. none of this drawn-out
explanation, which wasnt altogether un-
enlightening, could really be any kind
of replacement, neither for the parts,
nor for the whole, of the previous
or any of the subsequent
wordless moments
upon which we
have built
ourself . . .
dog: my queen! (walking on hind-legs)
leash-lady: laying it on thick, are we?
(dog plays dead)
leash-lady: uh-huh. methinks the puppy doth pro-
test too much. already. again.
dog: (risen) theres one more thing id like to say
leash-lady: of course.
dog: one little word can carry a lot of baggage.
leash-lady: indeed. so can one dogs nose.
dog: so i was trying to write a soliloquy
about that, to go here.
leash-lady: uh-huh.
dog: (with fanfare) but then,
i cut it —
snip!
(applause)
leash-lady: this changes everything, and yet,
this changes nothing at all.
(oohs and aahs)
dog: and then the formatting really boggled
my indie-web blog, and my dog-brain too.
(laughter)
leash-lady: you know, dog, you dont have to write it
down all at once. sometimes, you can just
put the work down gently, at the end
of a long day. self-care,
other-care,
we-care,
it-care.
(silence)
dog: it cares! it cares!
leash-lady: i didnt say that —
dog: so, can we please have
our elephant back now?
leash-lady: beg
(dog begs)
κἀγὼ