In Bethulia, a Reckoning (APW) (1610 hits)
Category: Quotes & Stories -> PoetryLabels: APW
Rating: 1.77 on 34 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Orgasmatron (View user info) at 2006-03-15 14:09:11 EST
A slit, and a sliver of silver steel
Defeats the stale scream from his waking throat,
Small hands steady as they saw and serrate
And grip the thick black curls of his hairline
To yawn his neck awake; dark blood alive
In the torchlight, blanketing his pillow
With an angry river of red ribbons,
Staining sheets of crimson with a deeper
Dyer's shade. Not a drip touches her hand,
For pure is the nature of the murder,
Endorsed by the protector of Judah,
He whose breath once brought life to Old Adam;
He will not permit his maiden be marred
By the spill of a dark Assyrian.
The eyes roll back, and burst again with fear,
A look of a slaughtered bull on his face,
His nightmare, a waking reality,
Dawning on him as he gurgles and rasps,
Bare body rippling and tense in protest,
Unable to pray, to cry, though trying,
Lips moving for Ashur and for mother,
Shuddering below cloudy eyes as the
Final blow of air escapes his empty lungs,
A wet wheeze ripping the night in two. These,
The hopeless drownings of the gutted dead.
Bled and muted the widow takes her head,
The scent of jasper heavy in the air,
Mixing with the smoky cedar from fires
Tended to by drunken guards. She exits,
She prays, and God above is satisfied.
User Reviews
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2006-06-20 02:11:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by carbon (user info) at 2006-03-29 17:06:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This is awesome.
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2006-03-15 23:54:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2006-03-15 18:36:49 (#)
Ranking: 2
The inspirational piece is wonderfully disturbing and the colors are stunning. Your interpretation is chilling and exceptionally well written as always.
I need to come up with some new adjectives that give your writing some justice.
===
craptastic?
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2006-03-15 18:36:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
The inspirational piece is wonderfully disturbing and the colors are stunning. Your interpretation is chilling and exceptionally well written as always.
I need to come up with some new adjectives that give your writing some justice.
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-03-15 17:57:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Caravaggio did some John the Baptist paintings, Ax:
http://gallery.euroweb.hu/art/c/caravagg/03/271y_ram.jpg
http://www.wga.hu/art/c/caravagg/12/76stjohn.jpg
http://www.andong-ch.org/bibpic/bibpicture/caravaggio/Carava04.jpg
http://www.andong-ch.org/bibpic/bibpicture/caravaggio/Carava03.jpg
And if you want more beheading paintings, here are his David/Goliath pieces:
http://www.luc.edu/depts/history/dennis/Visual_Arts/02-Baroque_Caravaggio_David-Beheading-Goliath.jpg
http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/v144/maticx/caravaggio-david2.jpg
http://home.mokwon.ac.kr/~arthistory/images/pic/caravaggio-david.jpg
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-03-15 17:34:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-03-15 17:28:14 (#)
Ranking: 2
I thought it was John the Baptist for a second.
_________________________________________________
Nah, that would have involved that Salami chick. . .
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-03-15 17:28:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I thought it was John the Baptist for a second.
Submitted by The_Yellow_Dart (user info) at 2006-03-15 17:07:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Mmmm
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-03-15 16:40:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Great stuff.
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-03-15 16:24:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-03-15 15:18:55 (#)
Ranking: 2
Nice to see a woman holding a blade in the Bible instead of staying silent or generally being blamed for everything.
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poem was cool, but you get a +2 for saying that.
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Someone has to, right?
It's one of the reasons I think I like the story so much. It's a rarity when considering the rest of the material it's sandwiched in between.
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2006-03-15 16:20:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
ahhh, Carrrrrrrrravaggio!
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-03-15 16:12:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Just for the record, Delilah didn't cut Samson's hair. . .
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-03-15 16:06:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Maybe it's just cold in there, Blue.
Or maybe the old crone's been tweaking them with her experienced fingers.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-03-15 16:03:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Notice how the bitch's nipples are hard? Women are like that....
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2006-03-15 16:00:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by HighVoltage900 (user info) at 2006-03-15 15:56:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I too enjoy artistry.
I have a particular piece I enjoy very much. It is of Tera Patrick licking chocolate sauce off of the nipples of Madison Steel. I find it to be very poignant in times when I am troubled.
And in need of an erection.
Submitted by Susie_Derkins (user info) at 2006-03-15 15:39:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-03-15 15:26:01 (#)
Ranking: 0
I prefer the colors in the Caravaggio more, the look in his eyes, and the old woman.
And though I love how Holofernes' hand and general size dwafs the women in Gentileschi's, there's something about the size of his head that doesn't work for me. It's just a little too small.
His is much more visceral, though. Holding the man down from a higher position and such. Judith just looks a little bored in Caravaggio's.
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Hahaha she does look bored. I think the arterial spray looks more realistic in Gentileschi's, Caravaggio's looks like red yarn. But I do agree the proportions are a little off in G's.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-03-15 15:35:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
ah, excellent lunchtime viewing
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2006-03-15 15:35:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm not the biggest fan of poetry (as i've stated on numerous occasions). I would say this is my favorite post of yours so far. Very carnal, to the point, and I like that.
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-03-15 15:26:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I prefer the colors in the Caravaggio more, the look in his eyes, and the old woman.
And though I love how Holofernes' hand and general size dwafs the women in Gentileschi's, there's something about the size of his head that doesn't work for me. It's just a little too small.
His is much more visceral, though. Holding the man down from a higher position and such. Judith just looks a little bored in Caravaggio's.
Submitted by Susie_Derkins (user info) at 2006-03-15 15:22:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Except I liked Gentileschi's version better.
Submitted by Susie_Derkins (user info) at 2006-03-15 15:19:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
In the first few lines, I knew exactly what painting you were writing about. God, I'm such an art nerd. Well done.
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-03-15 15:18:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Nice to see a woman holding a blade in the Bible instead of staying silent or generally being blamed for everything.
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poem was cool, but you get a +2 for saying that.
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-03-15 15:06:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
It's taken from the Book of Judith, and boils down to this -- the Israelites are being plagued by the Assyrians, who attempt to siege Judah and cut off its water supply. The widow Judith goes to the Assyrian camp and charms their captain, Holofernes, with her feminine ways. When he's passed out on his bed, drunk, she creeps in and cuts off his head.
Or, in other words, the Hebrews all made faces at their enemies and shouted "See? We have a Delilah, too."
Nice to see a woman holding a blade in the Bible instead of staying silent or generally being blamed for everything.
If you want to read a text version of it, go here:
http://www.hope.edu/academic/religion/bandstra/BIBLE/JDT/JDT0.HTM
Start from section 7 if you want the full story, or section 13 if you just want to skip to the beheading.
Oh, and Gentileschi created a painting that depicts this scene as well: http://courses.washington.edu/danz/wi03/images/judith_holofernes_gentileschi_2.jpg
I like Caravaggio's better.
Submitted by HighVoltage900 (user info) at 2006-03-15 14:57:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Could you give me the background story to this?
I am not really well versed in things biblical.
From what I understand God created man which was generally viewed as a bad idea. Then he created lions and tigers to try and kill man and wipe any trace of his creation off this earth so no one realized he screwed up. Then we were totally pimp and made a zoo and the lions and tigers went in the zoo and other men paid to visit. Then god was like "Fuck this is getting out of hand." so he challenged Johnny Appleseed to a poker match but lost because he forgot that a straight beats a three of a kind and was like "FUCK ME! I am such a stupid deity!" and Johnny was like "I pimped your ass bitch. Give me nuclear power and an Xbox 360."
And that is how we invented the atomic bomb. And Microsoft.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2006-03-15 14:57:17 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
M...I ...C....K...E...Y....
M..O...U...S....E
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-03-15 14:43:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2006-03-15 14:26:17 (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh, and I like asparagus, too.
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I had asparagus the other night. A big, tasty helping of it, too.
It was the first time that the vegetable has not affected the scent of my bladder's holdings.
Not sure whether to be pleased by this, or afraid.
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-03-15 14:40:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Ev'rybody's talking about
Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, that-ism, is-m, is-m, is-m.
All we are saying is give poetry a chance
All we are saying is give poetry a chance
C'mon
Ev'rybody's talking about Ministers,
Sinisters, Banisters and canisters
Bishops and Fishops and Rabbis and Pop eyes,
And bye bye, bye byes.
All we are saying is give poetry a chance
Submitted by MistressFist (user info) at 2006-03-15 14:26:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow that's hardcore
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2006-03-15 14:26:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Spinach is the roxxors!!!!
Eat yours, HV, and somebody you *may* be as buff and sexy as yours truly.
Oh, and I like asparagus, too.
Submitted by HighVoltage900 (user info) at 2006-03-15 14:17:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
FUCK SPINACH NIGGA!
Fuck you!
And fuck your ass for thinkin I like spinach!
I ain't no popeye!
I am straight up GANSTA BIOTCH!
DC SOUTHSIDE MOTHA FUCKA!
Step off!
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-03-15 14:14:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
See, Voltage, spinach isn't so bad if you give it a chance.
Submitted by HighVoltage900 (user info) at 2006-03-15 14:13:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I started reading this and thought "Oh dear. I don't think I will like this."
But viewing the pic and then reading the post really brought out the imagery. I really felt the story come alive you know?
Very well done.
-2DIE
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-03-15 14:09:42 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I'm so happy that I finally got this submitted on the right day.