lethargy and oblivion swallow word and thought
and abate to futility all intention and undertaking
arresting the form into a state of abeyance--
Atlas yet upholds the weight of the heavens
and serfs of the tzar are still hauling the mud
from the swamps of Saint Petersburg
load by load, within their tattered shirts,
but the gravity of the world is still ever-increasing
as soul by soul, the bodies of the penned are freed.
elPintor
Mon 9th Apr 2018 01:01
Hey Suki. I meant the reference to Atlas as an illustration of being sentenced to labor by a victor who controls the rule of law. The idea behind the entire piece is simply that enslavement and imprisonment take many forms and that we are all subject to laws, which also take many forms.
That so many different ideas can be stirred in the minds of readers by just a few lines is, to me, a tribute to our innate abilities as individuals to perceive and to assign meaning and context. However, the fact that we, as a whole, can be held hostage by such simplistic human constructs as media and politics can only be a testament to the sluggishness of the consciousness to evolve along with the actions implemented by the body. It implies a brand of infantilism wherein we are unable to reconcile our wants with our needs.
Anyway, I go on too much. Thanks for stirring a few more dormant brain cells--I needed that.
Looking forward to reading your latest,
Rachel
PS
As if you didn't already have a faint idea, "syringe" comes from "syrinx". I played flute as a teenager and one of the last pieces I remember learning was that of Debussy. Alas, of late when reminded, I am prompted first to think of this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ROqdZWwQp8
David,
You're right too! I'm more of a Moving Mictures guy, but 2112 makes more sense now that it did then.
We are the priests of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers fill the hallowed halls..
By the way, my spell check tried to correct Syrinx with syringe..
SS
I haven't read any Ayn Rand, but wonder whether the Atlas is in reference to her Atlas Shrugged? Or is this a post-modern Mickey-take of the Cold War, and the new, improved and fake "Blame Russia" Cold War? Not sure, but this is intriguing and deep.
I hope we do wake up in time. Either that, or we all might sleep forever..
Cheers Rachel!
Suki
elPintor
Sun 8th Apr 2018 01:57
A serpentine mind? I thank you so much, Ray. But I feel like I'm lacking cognitive agility at the moment. Winter, here, is much protracted and my current mindset may all be due to a vitamin D deficiency (I'm in the midst of experimenting with my chemistry at this very moment--we'll see what the results bring).
Good to hear from you, Ray. And please, all others, pardon my previous brusque reply.
Rachel
I must say Rachel, I was in communist Russia envisaging huge national decisions that affected the workers . There is something profound and robust to the image - are you being invaded here?
A challenge as always with your serpentine mindset.
Ray x
elPintor
Sat 7th Apr 2018 18:01
Mostly an expression of momentary frustration. Thanks all for reading and your comments.
Rachel
Profound and intriguing. Set my mind fizzing.
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elPintor
Mon 9th Apr 2018 01:32
I certainly do need new ideas to come back to me, David, as I'm feeling quite stale working my blue collar job in this coldish mid-western town.
Though, I must also say that undertaking a search requires the ability to recognize what I find--I'm not particularly vulnerable to overestimating my powers of discernment and, therefore, am careful about what I go looking for.
On the hunt, nonetheless,
Rachel