Between Asgard and the Western Paradise

Gilgamesh, the mighty, King of Uruk,
Mighty was he, in whose shadow men shook.
Gilgamesh, son of Wild-Cow Ninsun,
Proud and terrible; equals he had none.
He gave to Uruk its solid ramparts,
Built Ishtar’s shrine within the city’s limits,
And brought his city prestige and glory,
So Uruk was known throughout his country.
But by day men battled for his delight,
And carnal pleasure he enjoyed at night.
Day by day, he feasted and drank his fill,
Whilst Uruk’s citizens humors grew ill.
The gods gathered in heavenly counsel,
To discuss Gilgamesh the boastful.
They said: “Let us create for this king
An equal to sate the people’s pleading;
A friend who Gilgamesh the restless needs,
Who shall instruct him and change his deeds.”
These two desired glory and fame –
And brandishing their swords, one Wild, one Tame
Journeyed into the Cedars in the West.
Humbaba’s killer still feared no man or beast
Even Ishtar he spurned with much ado,
Until, mocking him, Death took Enkidu.
Gilgamesh became cheerless and fearful –
Tearful to ponder a fate thus awful.
Lugalbanda’s son found Ur-Shanabi
Who took him to seek Uta-Napishti,
The immortal who discerned the formless void.
Gilgamesh said: “I wish death to avoid!
…For once I sought fame, but it brought me strife.
So I crossed the Sea to find endless life.”
Uta-Napishti the Distant heard him,
Saw him, mocked him, laughed at his fickle whim,
And said: “What the gods alone have decreed,
Is like the gale which carries the flaxseed,
For how can a seed defy the forceful wind?
Know, then, your dying no-one can rescind!
But hear this – in the Ocean grows a plant
And those that consume it, it will enchant.”
To Uruk returned Gilgamesh the Brave,
Sailing over ocean, rock, shore and wave.
For now he knew over life’s short journey
The battles waged of will and destiny.

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Ask backflip blinklist BlogBookmark Bloglines BlogMarks Blogsvine BuddyMarks BUMPzee! CiteULike co.mments Connotea del.icio.us

Digg diigo DotNetKicks DropJack dzone Facebook Fark Faves Feed Me Links Friendsite folkd.com Furl Google

Hugg Jamespot Jeqq Kaboodle kirtsy linkaGoGo LinksMarker Ma.gnolia Mister Wong Mixx MySpace MyWeb Netvouz

Newsvine oneview OnlyWire PlugIM Propeller Reddit Rojo Segnalo Shoutwire Simpy Slashdot Sphere Sphinn

Spurl Squidoo StumbleUpon Technorati ThisNext Twitter Webride Windows Live Worlds Movies Yahoo!

Email This to a Friend

Copy HTML: 

 If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

More »

Spring has arrived, but bloom not flowers sweet,
Which with sky-filling fragrance do licence
Apollo’s vict’ry o’er winter’s cold sleet.
Now are the days made long by our silence,
When fools feast and revel in false splendour,
Their ranks closed, celebrating on the plain
Pomp and circumstance of disgraceful war,
And singing of idle tales most profane.
They take their oaths and don their blackened robes –
Now callèd wise, they shall go to the world,
With naught a true thought fixed between their lobes,
Like fledgling sailors with their sails unfurled.
Stand we distant from them, in lament,
But, weep not, for we walk the path unbent.

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Ask backflip blinklist BlogBookmark Bloglines BlogMarks Blogsvine BuddyMarks BUMPzee! CiteULike co.mments Connotea del.icio.us

Digg diigo DotNetKicks DropJack dzone Facebook Fark Faves Feed Me Links Friendsite folkd.com Furl Google

Hugg Jamespot Jeqq Kaboodle kirtsy linkaGoGo LinksMarker Ma.gnolia Mister Wong Mixx MySpace MyWeb Netvouz

Newsvine oneview OnlyWire PlugIM Propeller Reddit Rojo Segnalo Shoutwire Simpy Slashdot Sphere Sphinn

Spurl Squidoo StumbleUpon Technorati ThisNext Twitter Webride Windows Live Worlds Movies Yahoo!

Email This to a Friend

Copy HTML: 

 If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

More »

I.
Clamour fades away
Whilst orchid blossoms remain.
A perfect ev’ning!

II.
Crossing the river
I seek to go far away –
To where, I know not.

III.
Alas the mountain
Beckons from the great yonder;
Geese pass overhead

IV.
And at the high peak,
I see rivers, trees and lakes.
But all is quiet.

V.
Let me describe
bound’ries in focus now blurred,
the joys of souls merged.

VI.
Once I heard it said:
Matter is emptiness, and
Sight is illusion

VII.
No fetters shall bind;
Alone within the Great Void
I meet the Alone.

VIII.
From the old villiage
Blows a dewy fragrant breeze.
Has dawn come so soon?

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Ask backflip blinklist BlogBookmark Bloglines BlogMarks Blogsvine BuddyMarks BUMPzee! CiteULike co.mments Connotea del.icio.us

Digg diigo DotNetKicks DropJack dzone Facebook Fark Faves Feed Me Links Friendsite folkd.com Furl Google

Hugg Jamespot Jeqq Kaboodle kirtsy linkaGoGo LinksMarker Ma.gnolia Mister Wong Mixx MySpace MyWeb Netvouz

Newsvine oneview OnlyWire PlugIM Propeller Reddit Rojo Segnalo Shoutwire Simpy Slashdot Sphere Sphinn

Spurl Squidoo StumbleUpon Technorati ThisNext Twitter Webride Windows Live Worlds Movies Yahoo!

Email This to a Friend

Copy HTML: 

 If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

More »

Fled now are the days of our youth and glory!
My heart burns brighter than autum yellow,
For not even the winter’s frost shall quench it.

I awoke this morn from my slumber
But, at midday my thoughts became
Restless, and by night no brighter.
So grabbed I my sword at my side,
And with it my scripture at my heart.
So I departed the city — no time did I bide
– Wandered past its sacred altars and gates
Onto a ancient plain, and did arrive
Between these barren oaks by silv’ry
Mist encircl’d.  There did I wander
Till the sun had set, and in the night,
Silent sat I under the starless sky,
Breathing in the darkness and mists; 
Speaking my prayer to a myriad gods,
Demigods and saints.

Now slowly begin the rains,
Falling from the sky,
Mingling with my tears upon the icy
Ground.  Raising my head, I wonder
If the willow twig shall again be green.