KÓRYOS
“Fill not a vessel, lest it spill in carrying.
Meddle not with a sharpened point by feeling it constantly, or it will soon become blunted.”
— Lao Tzu
A streaking party approach from the blustery hill,
Echoing with jackals’ laughter.
The old shaman, steadying his stance
With a shaky staff from out his splintered doorway,
Himself an aged wolf long since houghed,
Dictates under his breath tremendous rites
To the coming of these slavering lads:
“Howl the deeds of Nature—
Forgiveness is a weakness
And charity an excuse for liabilities.
May your hate heal you this night,
May your wounds relieve your blood.”
“Horror is what welds us together
Here in this great colosseum
Where only pain fills the Void
And flesh wills death.
A World is wildly waging:
The Will of the Way is War.”
“Locate the pheromone and exterminate its emanations,
Train your ear for rushing blood and cease its flow,
And for each of these biological biases which surrender
From beneath their servitude to Undying Nature,
Banish Eternity from their blind route.”
“Exhume the Vision from your Corpse,
Risen forth clad in Night black and cold,
Lacking reason for Death.
At first its flesh will appear alien to you—
The stinking loins, the shivering sinews—
Yet all housing of the Soul,
Which man names his Essence,
Serves but the mortal mill of Blood.”
“Wield the Sword of Tao,
Raise your slaying arm,
And splay what was sealed
And beating against your gaze!”
(Artwork: ‘Dark Landscape’ by Sidney Sime)
