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Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World
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Prometheus
The arsonist's eye sees in every stick only sleeping flame.
It sees each twig fulfill itself in fire.
This world trembles at heaven's all-consuming stare.
Yet Prometheus suffers bound to his black rock.
With his lightning blind wit he gave fire to the world--
rather than give the world to it.
2002
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger
A few questions to contemplate:
Who is the "arsonist"? And what is the fire that the arsonist sees in everything? What does it mean for a twig to "fulfill itself / in fire"?
Usually Prometheus is seen as the champion of humanity against the arbitrary will of the gods. Why, here, have I justified Prometheus' punishment? Why should he have given the world to fire, rather than the other way around? And what is the significance of his punishment, to be bound to a rock?
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Ivan
M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright ©
2002 - 2011 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or
publishers.