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The Poet, the Field, Kindness and the Capricious Indifference to Hope

On the Kavi's birthday. The Poet is the most revered character of Sanskrit lore. This is because the Poet knows what we love, what we fear, what we want, and all of the things we will do to do those things.

Poet, may the gods bless your task, may life prove itself kind with all its capricious indifference to hope, and may the voice inside you listen for all of the voices who muse within. Keep reminding us all who we have been and be that power of the Poet inside us. I think of you particularly this day with Sarpedon's warm admonitions to his friend Glaucus and their promise as friends to keep each other's good company, for good company is worth any price. Thanks for the company.

"Glaucus, why do they hold us both in honor, first by far with pride of place, choice meats and brimming cups,
in Lycia where all our people look on us like gods?...
So that now the duty's ours---
we are the ones to ...
brace and fling ourselves in the blaze of war,
so a comrade strapped for combat might say,
'Not without fame...
these kings of ours who eat fat cuts of lamb
and drink sweet wine, the finest stock we have.'
Ah, my friend, if you and I could escape the fray
and live forever, never a trace of age, immortal,
I would never fight on the front lines again
or command you to the field where men win fame.
But now, as it is, the fates of death await us,
thousands poised to strike, and not a man alive
can flee them or escape--- so in we go, forward!
Give our enemy glory or win it for ourselves!"
Iliad. 12.370ff., mostly Fagles.

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