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constantine
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« Reply #15 on: August 07, 2009, 01:39:04 PM » |
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she has credentials: imperial princess, high priestess of inanna, daughter of sargon, etc.
i'd say that is of a higher order than a couple of chapbooks and an e-zine, but who am i to judge? a poem must stand on its own merits. we don't pull rank in the chop shop. credentials mean absolutely nothing as far as we're concerned! are you with me, matey?
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constantine
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« Reply #16 on: August 07, 2009, 01:47:03 PM » |
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lead on, macbard! after a substantial repast, perhaps you can select a poem to satisfy our literary appetites. no?
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« Last Edit: August 07, 2009, 08:27:30 PM by constantine »
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constantine
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« Reply #17 on: August 08, 2009, 09:42:13 PM » |
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it has a middle eastern flavor to it - unlike american romance that renders the parents irrelevant, in this, they are respected, and marriage becomes blended with familial love which makes it even stronger. of course, the bridegroom is a king - so maybe the bride is setting up the king with cheapo presents in order to get the big payoff - the royal treatment. remember, i am greek and know how these things work.
and another thing. we lose sight of the fact that these poets, of which we are so enamoured, were humans - just like most of us; they didn't walk around in profile like a fucking hieroglyph! they made love - and cakes - those little honey barley cakes with sesame - maybe with a date or drupe in it if times were good. i don't see no honey barley cakes where i live - with or without drupes. women have traded the skills of the hearth for flannel shirts, cigars, and a big mac. not all women, mind you - i'm not saying that, but at least a significant proportion of the feminine persuasion have betrayed their cultural sexuality. i hate when that happens.
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« Last Edit: August 09, 2009, 02:40:23 AM by constantine »
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constantine
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« Reply #18 on: August 10, 2009, 07:53:24 PM » |
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are we through yet with these savages? shall we continue onward or dally around some more in the land between the rivers? i say let's cruise! if you concur, i shall pick a card from the magic deck of poetry.
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constantine
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« Reply #19 on: August 11, 2009, 12:46:14 AM » |
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i have something in mind, but i have to find it. must be around here somewhere. i'll go upstairs to the basement.
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constantine
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« Reply #20 on: August 11, 2009, 01:04:31 AM » |
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egyptian book of the dead, chapter 125 - the judgment of the dead - introduction (c. 1800 bce)) W. Budge translation
[The dead will say:]
Homage to you, Great God, the Lord of the double Ma'at (Truth)!
I have come to you, my Lord,
I have brought myself here to behold your beauties.
I know you, and I know your name,
And I know the names of the two and forty gods,
Who live with you in the Hall of the Two Truths,
Who imprison the sinners, and feed upon their blood,
On the day when the lives of men are judged in the presence of Osiris.
In truth, you are "The Twin Sisters with Two Eyes," and "The Daughters of the Two Truths."
In truth, I now come to you, and I have brought Maat to you,
And I have destroyed wickedness for you.
I have committed no evil upon men.
I have not oppressed the members of my family.
I have not wrought evil in the place of right and truth.
I have had no knowledge of useless men.
I have brought about no evil.
I did not rise in the morning and expect more than was due to me.
I have not brought my name forward to be praised.
I have not oppressed servants.
I have not scorned any god.
I have not defrauded the poor of their property.
I have not done what the gods abominate.
I have not cause harm to be done to a servant by his master.
I have not caused pain.
I have caused no man to hunger.
I have made no one weep.
I have not killed.
I have not given the order to kill.
I have not inflicted pain on anyone.
I have not stolen the drink left for the gods in the temples.
I have not stolen the cakes left for the gods in the temples.
I have not stolen the cakes left for the dead in the temples.
I have not fornicated.
I have not polluted myself.
I have not diminished the bushel when I've sold it.
I have not added to or stolen land.
I have not encroached on the land of others.
I have not added weights to the scales to cheat buyers.
I have not misread the scales to cheat buyers.
I have not stolen milk from the mouths of children.
I have not driven cattle from their pastures.
I have not captured the birds of the preserves of the gods.
I have not caught fish with bait made of like fish.
I have not held back the water when it should flow.
I have not diverted the running water in a canal.
I have not put out a fire when it should burn.
I have not violated the times when meat should be offered to the gods.
I have not driven off the cattle from the property of the gods.
I have not stopped a god in his procession through the temple,
I am pure.
I am pure.
I am pure.
I am pure.
My purity is the purity the great Bennu (heron) in Heracleopolis.
Behold, I am the nose of the God of Breath, who gives life to the people,
On the day of completing the Eye of Ra in Heliopolis,
On the last day of the second month of winter,
In the presence of the pharaoh of this land.
I have seen the the Eye of Horus when it was full in Heliopolis!
Therefore, let no evil befall me in this land
In this Hall of the Two Truths,
Because I know the names of all the gods within it,
And all the followers of the great God.
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« Last Edit: August 11, 2009, 01:11:40 AM by constantine »
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constantine
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« Reply #21 on: August 11, 2009, 01:39:41 PM » |
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most were destroyed by the moslems.
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constantine
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« Reply #22 on: August 11, 2009, 03:09:46 PM » |
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by all means, check up darius' sleeve - it won't be the first time a greek kicked his sorry ass. as i remember, we weren't satisfied kicking one darius to the curb, we had to do it again to another. personally, i'm waiting for a third so i can get in on it. but first, back to the egyptians. i shall return in the evening to delve into their zombie book of the dead.
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« Last Edit: August 11, 2009, 03:40:23 PM by constantine »
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BardmasterUB05
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« Reply #23 on: August 11, 2009, 07:10:07 PM » |
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oh, so you believe those tales about a band of rug rats defeating legions of experienced freedom fighters?
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constantine
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« Reply #24 on: August 11, 2009, 07:15:58 PM » |
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if it wasn't for the greeks, you'd be wearing a turban. not that there's anything wrong with a turban. you'd probably look good in one.
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constantine
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« Reply #25 on: August 11, 2009, 07:22:07 PM » |
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idol speculation. yes?
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constantine
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« Reply #26 on: August 12, 2009, 02:16:54 PM » |
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not much has survived from antiquity, or, as you have mentioned, it may yet be discovered. be that as it may, i don't see any so the book of the dead will have to suffice. the excerpt reminds me of the ten commandments, but then again why shouldn't it? in order for a civilization to have social continuity and cohesion these matters must be addressed. it gives some interesting insights into what was important to the egyptian culture and the prevailing moral winds of the time. more later - as i'm only warming up.
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constantine
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« Reply #27 on: August 13, 2009, 02:52:08 PM » |
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i think the passage illustrates the overall similarity of middle eastern religions - which is perennially ironic for obvious reasons, and, perhaps more importantly, the poem kicks ass regally! of course, one could argue that this is not a poem, but rather, a religious text. i would argue that poetry has its roots in religion, and the farther one goes back they become one in the same in function and expression. here in the chop shop we don't get all holy roly about such distinctions.
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« Last Edit: August 13, 2009, 03:46:16 PM by constantine »
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constantine
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« Reply #28 on: August 14, 2009, 01:49:46 PM » |
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since my co-writer seems to be off on "another" vacation and/or retirement - as it were - i will continue in my own humble, yet intelligent, fashion.
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constantine
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« Reply #29 on: August 14, 2009, 02:25:14 PM » |
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sorry about that. i hope they aren't dry like last time.
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« Last Edit: August 14, 2009, 02:44:05 PM by constantine »
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