They expose the unwanted infant
On a hot flat stone, or throw it
Whirling head over foot into the ravine
For the raven's obscene brunch,
And walk back down
Their barren blasted Hill
To their village of rocks,
Hearing the mother’s moans,
Approving the father's stern smile.
All male, the state demands,
And sound.
Man is indeed a rum lot.
Posted by: Frank P at February 6, 2010 5:29 AM"Nobody, by denying Somebody's existence, is also changed into Nobody. And if we are all Nobody, then none of us exists. The circle is closed and the shadow of Nobody spreads out over our land, choking the Gesticulator and covering everything. Silence - the prehistoric silence, stronger than all the pyramids and sacrifices, all the churches and uprisings and popular songs - comes back to rule over ......."
~ Octavio Paz
Posted by: Mizz E at February 6, 2010 8:23 AMIt seems that all primitive cultures were rooted in human sacrifice, which is "unanimity minus one."
Posted by: Gagdad Bob at February 6, 2010 10:25 AMAnd we're not? This country has a pro-abortion crowd (NB: I specifically mean those who scream when a woman makes a choice to HAVE a child) that certainly brings to mind the worship of Moloch.
Posted by: B. Durbin at February 6, 2010 4:10 PMIt's always gratifying when people get the multiple layers of meaning and reference.
Posted by: vanderleun at February 6, 2010 5:44 PMThis sounds like a reference to ancient Sparta, where imperfect offspring were left on a mountain to die.
Posted by: Darrencardinal at February 6, 2010 8:06 PMAs a matter of fact was written at the tomb of Leonidas in Sparta.
Posted by: vanderleun at February 6, 2010 11:01 PMVery haunting bit of verse.
Posted by: Irish Cicero at February 7, 2010 1:40 PMThe most innocent perish and the truly guilty go on.
It is sad to see that nothing has changed since the time of Moloch and the Spartans.
Posted by: newton at February 8, 2010 1:33 PM
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