The Logos of Hestia
No, no. Don't bother with me. I'm just old.
I'm tired, and I have a bit more work undone.
So I'll set the fire, just in the chance
That some latecomer may still wish warmth.
A meal still uneaten, it will keep fresh
if put aside for when the pangs of life
grow too harsh and there is no bread baked
for the child to skip about in eager hand.
So much to do. So many things to mend.
The garden path is full of stones
the well filled with creations of weavers.
The roof is rent, the beds leashed from afar.
They argue and raise their hands in assembly
grinding the good of the city into
a flour that will never be baked, but instead
shipped to some far shore for the heroes to feast.
Heroes that are long gone from this dead field.
So it shall sit here, to rot, or for another
who watches for it to go unattended.
An army of ants waits to claim victory.
So much, but all have turned their backs and left
for the hearth keeper shall always be there
constant, unthought of. The one that catches
the bones that even the dogs leave behind.
They won't end well, you know. Most won't find home.
The proud gods have grasped a glimmer of what matters
and it is not in honors, nor wealth, nor power.
Not even in the desires they think hidden.
So I shall pray to them. I pray they find
that hearth where they are welcome in deed and song
rises from the assembled voices. May even Ares find
a place where his shield shines upon a wall.
In tribute to deeds long ago, but no more.
May the fire burn through the long night
May those waking from dark dreams see me
constant and watchful. A smile for the wakeful.
And when the light crawls across the threshold
once again, think not of straying once more
into the vast world to seek other's treasures.
Instead spare a thought for how much you have.
Comments
This is the last piece in the play.
I think it works well as a closing. To set the scene, imagine that the stage is empty save for one old woman who I want to look as much like a cleaning lady as possible. Essentially, I want her to be unthought of at the start, but as the piece continues I want it to be more and more obvious that she's actually a goddess. (Kind of a parody of a striptease. Instead of becoming more and more sexy, she become more and more godly)
Thanks to Hestia for the idea, because I think it's rather clever. Thanks to the muses for relaying it, and their pieces are soon to be up in thanks.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Uh, I ain't
saying he's wrong-but something ain't Quite Right with frogleap.
That Dude ROCKS! In actuality, laughing like a loon at that boy!
Oh, and thanks for this series. Gonna try and gather them together to read one after the other withOut having to hunt for them.
Well Done, Sirra!
Edit; was a reply to your post down thread, sorry to jump the threadline. Weird.
Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .
Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .
If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march
Nobody does metal like the Scandinavians
And thanks for reminding me I should probably do an index of these at some point. The Opening is done, BTW, and posted in Community Content.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Would love a ticket to the play; thank you for sharing!
I hope it's as close to free as possible...
After the actors have been fed, and the workmen who put up the set compensated for their time. I'd love to put a tiny little notice in the copyright, that this play is free to produce, provided the production provide for FREE a breakdown of what every actor is being paid, and where every cent of the ticket goes, right in the program, which is also mandatory with a full cast listing including the crew.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Great ending, DMW
Why do we have to wait 'til the end of our lives to appreciate what we have.
Are we too consummed seeking others treasure?
Thanks for all your hard work bringing this to life.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Thanks for reading it.
Of course now that the ending is written, a lot of the pressure of "COMPLETE IT!" that my brain has is off the table, so instead I can focus on telling the little stories.
I've already written "The Logos of Penelope" which was a lot more personal than I thought it would be, and I'm hoping to write a piece for each of the muses as a thank you for all the help.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Sorry about the EXTREMELY minor change.
There was one letter that was wrong. And believe it or not it turned a pun into an anachronism I wasn't trying to make.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Thank you
Your writing is very strong. It is direct and clear, and complimented by an ethereal quality. You create a stage for the reader’s thoughts to wander and explore the images your words create. I can imagine the play produced really simply. Two actors, one male, one female - minimal stage setting and artful lighting. Maybe some video images running silently in the background. Please excuse my imagining out loud if it’s too off-track.
Sorry, your reply got misfiled... right below. :)
But thank you so much for reading, btw!
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Yes, Ideally this piece has a variety of possible stagings.
The lowest budget of course just being 2 performers and some lighting. I'd even be fine with the playwright being played by a woman, since the one dialog I envision in the play is quick and done between the giver of the invocation and Antisthenes.
The highest being an entire cast, chorus and costumes, with some set dressing, but still pretty simple.
Honestly, I envision a large cast because I keep thinking of those high school drama departments that never have enough speaking roles for everyone. I admit I'm a fan of Shakespeare and the Greeks, so I beg a bit of indulgence for my fancies.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Your response made me smile.
"Honestly, I envision a large cast because I keep thinking of those high school drama departments that never have enough speaking roles for everyone."
I can certainly appreciate your sentiments, even though I was always the first in HS to raise her hand for props.
I just remember the frustration...
of auditioning and never getting a role in anything but Shakespeare, because they were the only plays with a large enough cast for everybody to participate.
But I LOVE stage crew, and anybody who doesn't treat them like a full member of the production doesn't understand the fact that theater is a team effort. There's really no place for the ego that Hollywood forces on actors to turn them against each other. (Personal theory. Actors have one of the best unions that still operates, and the competition mindset that's taken hold recently undermines that badly.)
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Your appreciation of all whose efforts contribute
to the production of a play is applauded. I also appreciate the genuine modesty of your own talents and support of others in your realm.
Aaaand now I've got this goofy joke in my head...
"Yah, well, you know you can't be perfect unless you're humble about it."
Seriously though, I always found myself hanging out with prop folks/craft service/grips/cameramen when I worked in Hollywood. It's amazing how few actors care to do it. Most of them from my experience just hang out in their area till call. (Never understood that mentality of "I NEED to get into character! Don't Speak to me!" Nothing against the Method, but it creates some entitled fucking people...)
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Never heard that joke before.
It's really quite funny in it's irony. Thanks
crew
I hear you! The minute they found out I knew what an electric circuit was, my future as an actor was doomed! Doomed, I say!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Very funny
I can't say that I had knowledge of any kind when I raised my hand. I just didn't want to be visible ; ).
Wonderful, detroit. A fit and proper ending, and even the
ending's ending is perfect:
And when the light crawls across the threshold
once again, think not of straying once more
into the vast world to seek other's treasures.
Instead spare a thought for how much you have.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Seriously, I keep expecting to find out
that I'm ripping off somebody without knowing it. These really are just flowing easily and constantly, thanks to the Muses and the Gods for being respectful of my mortal limitations.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.