{Poetry} Prometheus Falling
Keeping the flame
There is a Prometheus statue in my home town, and last summer I paid my respects, based on some signals I’d been getting. As fate would have it, that statue is having its 50th anniversary celebration today! That’s coinciding with some things, a poem about fire jumped out recently and a lot seems to be coming alive right now. I just felt like sharing in honor of the sculpture and its creator, and the titan himself, who’s been walking with me.
At one point in the ‘90s, the statue was vandalized, and had a portion of its flames sawed off. Now it looks more like he is diving on a piece of coral. That, coupled with the fact that the sculpture was recently refinished - resulting in a darkening matte where there was once a beautiful bronze lustre - brings a sense of gradual fading in passion and inspiration.
Almost like he’s slowly getting his liver pecked out or something.
I just had to go read this guy some poetry on his anniversary, and I’m sharing it with you as well.
The first piece is a stripped-down version of an original piece of writing. There were other figures and influences I brought in for that, but that was more personal. I wanted to bring it down to mainly Prometheus. Hope you enjoy!
Prometheus Exaltation
Hail Prometheus, down from Olympus!
You, who has lifted humanity from the darkness
And placed in our kind, we creatures of clay,
The glorious hearth-fire of gods
At peril, at cost, with untaméd courage
Not even gods escape your inquiry, your audacity and cunning
No order, nor caste, nor fate eludes your rigor
Patron of maverick inspiration, of streaking genius
Of everlasting thirst for knowledge and liberation
Prometheus, Lucifer, Christ; bring your torches!
Bearing the anguish of illumination
The consequence of becoming and true sight
We give our thanks to you and our lives are thanks in the living!
I am the fire that is stolen from heaven!
I am the inventor and the invention!
I am the light and the light-bringer!
I am revealed as the revealer!
The kindling-fire of man is built slowly by the piece
But the fire of the gods comes all at once, swift lightning!
Fearsome animus to the worthy vessel
We call to you, Prometheus, and offer to you these gifts
Our striving, our fervor, revelation and awe
Our lives a rapture of flame upon the Earth!
Fire
Fire is the question that burns you for asking
The secret that burns you for telling
Seen, but never known
Kept, but never captured
It has no beginning or end
Only arrival and departure
Raw desire, immaterial
Flowing ecstatic consummate
Dancing in Tongues
Pouring the earth on the sky
Renewed in every moment and vanishing with its mystery
Fire is the first thief and cannot be stolen
These words immolate as you read them, or they are empty
They do not speak the flame and so the flame permits them
If they should lead you to its secret, your eyes would ignite the page
You are safe until the moment of realization
That you are that flame that is stolen from heaven
You are ablaze or you have learned nothing
A torch can be passed
But no one can burn your fingers for you
To singe them is to glimpse the spirit
To know its heart is to be consumed
These feel really alive, thank you for sharing them with us!
Thank you for taking the time, and for the kind words. Really means a lot.