The Opening of the Eye

The Opening of the Eye

It was his eye that made me understand,
Understand his intentions and devotions,
His followings and adherences,
Understand the fuel of his furnaces,
Bubbling from within his chest like magma,
Ready to spray his soul upon the hapless passersby.
It was in his eye that I saw his heart,
That I saw wrapped in that fluctuating ring of brown,
The tarnished, animated coil of rusty iron,
Once shiny like a pearl but now dull and absorbent..
That I saw the snails and dogs, for some reason,
Arguing with one another over pancakes,
And whether or not they'd get to drive the chariot.
It was about his eye that I saw the swarms,
The muddled masses of flies buzzing about,
Attempting to make sense of the fight or flight,
All the while driven toward the soft orange glow,
Of the flickering cushion of heat from the pit below.
It was by his eye that the shadow was cast,
The ominous semipresence flowing over the warm crust,
The hardened earth that became the corruption.
Spewing forth from the center like cold oil,
Languidly, knowing that its prey cannot escape.

And yet I stubbornly confronted the demon,
I bore the brunt of its firey breath and its windy torment,
Its verbal lashings and aura of searing malcontent,
I bore the banner of kings and queens,
Of philosophers and wizards arcane,
Of warriors and heroes alike,
And I bore my blade of champions,
My hilted lightning bolt of Zeus' ire and might,
My shining testament to fortified will and effort,
As it surged through my feeble hands not born,
To wield the power, the fury of gods and titans.
But I nonetheless did not heed the warnings,
Did not heed the onslaught of the modus operandi,
Of my foe and its terrible thirst for blood and damnation,
It's dull, blackened attributive talent and desire,
Hidden within its own bibulous edge of darkness.
No, it was not me.
Though I bore the brunt,
Though I bore the sight,
Though I bore the sword,
I bore no such ordainment;
Only the will of the innocent,
The stubborn resolve of the proud many.

And I fell from the top as a great flame encircled me,
Like a comet tail flashing, streaking across the sky,
It was my iron-gray eye that became tarnished,
And the pit that opened around the heart was mine,
As my banner flaked to dust and my blade crumbled,
The voices of my ancestors diminished,
The wisdom and knowledge of the ages subsided,
My vision became cloudy and my heart burned.
Yea, it was with a thunderous clap that I landed,
Erupting in both earth and water, steam and ash,
fire and flame, and yes, even concussion and wind.
There, in that deep, dark recess within the womb,
Of Gaia did I lay, dormant and my lights diminished,
Like the light of distant stars traveling afar,
And yet, that faded luminescence glittered like crystal,
Like the many eyes of Gaia seen in the rivers,
And streams of the world, in the reflections caught,
In the sparkles of dewdrops caught in a spider's web,
Just shadows of the true form as Plato might say.

But for all its marvel, this tiny, faltering light,
Could not be extinguished and was reborn.
It grew with intensity, with prideful determination,
That overtook painful memory,
The bones healed, the skin restitched itself,
The blood replenished and the will refortified,
And the parapets of my mind were rebuilt,
With the virtues of my people,
With the wisdom and knowledge forgot,
With the thunderous countenance of giants,
Titans who lived in the whispers of every myth,
And every proverbial promise, every twist,
Within the caverns of the collective consciousness,
Persevering throughout time and space,
Over lip and tongue, through spirit and mind.
It was then that I knew I'd found the source,
The rich vein of completion and of certitude,
To be mined alongside the blood and sweat of my brothers,
The neverending supply of armor that I had once sought,
That idea that had fueled me into thinking that demons,
Could corrupt the virtuous, the selfless.
Alas, my eyes were opened.


 Invino Veritas
10/30/12
EOF

Daring to Dream or How to Stop Worrying About Finances and Start Loving the Death Ray: Act I: Scene II

[Marvin and Nergel enjoy a morning breakfast. A robot occasionally 
 enters the room while they talk to serve them, but then quickly 
 disappears offstage without a word.The androgynous robot wears
 a bizarre servant's outfit with the top half of a traditional butler's
 coat and the bottom half of a prototypical french-maid dress.]

Nergal:   [Eating, startled by the servant robot] Oh my god! When the
              hell are you finally going to decide on whether or not that thing
              is a girl or a boy?
Marvin:  If I do that then how else wll get the enjoyment of seeing you
             curse and howl at breakfast time? By the way, try the kipper.
             Ashley [Points at the robot with his knife] is a fantastic chef.
Nergel:   I see you've already decided.
Marvin:  What do you mean?
Nergel:  Forgive me, Master, but Ashley is a girl's name.
Marvin:  Pardon me, but Ashley can be either a boy's or girl's name.
Nergel:  Perhaps you might consider providing it with either a dress or a
             proper suit.
Marvin:  Oh, I don't know. It seems kind of...approriate - not just to
              the robot thing but to the whole being a mad scientist thing.
Nergel:  [Under his breath] Well, they won't ever mistake you for
             being sane, that's for sure.
Marvin:  Hmm?
Nergel:  [Shoving some food in his mouth and shaking his head as 
              he points to his mouth, and then smiles while he chews
              and rubs his belly.]
Marvin:  See? I told you! That kipper is divine.
Nergel:  [Swallowing loudly] Delicious!

             [There is a momentary lull in the conversation before 
               Marvin begins.]

Marvin:   [Checking items off a list with a pencil.] Steel couplings,
                check! Uranium Power Generator, check! Uranium, check!
                Heavenly substance...umm hmm. [Contemplating, confused]
                Nergel, do we have any heavenly anything down in the the
                lab?
Nergel:  You mean besides the slice of heaven I buttered my toast with
              this morning? [Marvin smirks] I'll have to check. Be right back.
              [Exit Nergel]

              [Marvin looks over his designs as the doorbell rings. Marvin
               exits the stage to answer the door. Shortly thereafter, muffled
               conversation can be heard as Marvin returns to the dining room
               table with Dr. Kimmel of the North American Guild of
               Unconventional Scientists.]


Marvin:   I can't begin to tell you what a marvelous surprise it is to see you,
              as always, Doctor. Tell me, what brings you to Carouge?
Kimmel:  Mostly guild business, I'm afraid, though a little site seeing isn't
              completely out of the question, Doctor.
Marvin:   Oh? Am I on the list of site seeing or business?
Kimmel:  Business, I'm afraid.
Marvin:  Oh, well, please have a seat. Ashley! Tea!
              [There's a pause before the robot enters with a tray  and two
                cups of steaming tea. Ashley serves them both and then
                exits back from where it came.]
Kimmel:  [Raises an eyebrow at the robot and its garb.]
               Marvin, what is that?
Marvin:  I thought you might like some tea.
Kimmel: No, Marvin, the robot.
Marvin:  Oh, that's Ashley.
Kimmel:  [Frustrated] Marvin...I hope this isn't the sort of thing with which
               you hope to represent the guild this quarter.
Marvin:  Oh, heavens no, Eldrich! Ashley is purely for domestic use only.
Kimmel: [Relieved] In that case, I will refrain from further questions about
              all of that business. Actually, the guild has quite another concern,
              Marvin. Word has it that you have a new project brewing in your
              laboratory. The guild is concerned that this...death ray is it?
Marvin:   Yes, but how....?
Kimmel:  Yes, this death ray may be a bit of an outdated idea. Gone are the
               days of taking over the world or cyclopean atomic robots with
               laser eyes, Marvin. The guild is more concerned with innovation
               rather than imitation.
Marvin:  What do you mean? This death ray is going to be the death ray to
              end all death rays!
Kimmel: But of course, Marvin. They all are.
Marvin:  At the very least, hear me out!
Kimmel: Very well, Marvin. But please don't expect too much out of me.
Marvin:  Ok, certainly we've all heard about death rays, shrink rays, cosmic
              rays and, yes, even heat rays. But when was the last time you heard
              of...are you ready for it? The heavenly death ray!
Kimmel: [Blankly at first, then confused.] A heavenly death ray? You do
             do realize that doesn't make any sense, right?
Marvin:  Why do people keep saying that?
Kimmel: Marvin, go ahead and make your "heavenly" death ray. Have a
              fantastic time as a tired old genre of scientist. But, please, for
              your sake, for the guild's sake, I urge you to rethink your decision
              about this death ray.
Marvin:  I can't believe what you're saying to me!
Kimmel: Marvin, don't take it so hard.
Marvin:  Don't take it so hard? Don't take it so hard? You bear the message
              of misfortune, stomping on my dreams, and all you have to say is
              'don't take it so hard'?
Kimmel: Now, calm down, Marvin.
Marvin:  Don't ask me to calm down you...you charlatan! You fraud!
              [Mockingly] Unconventional scientists, indeed! Let me tell you
              something, Doctor Kimmel: there is nothing unconventional about
              doing what everyone else is doing! And I sure as hell wouldn't have
               become a scientist, much less a mad scientist, if all I wanted to
              do was become an asterisk in a forgotten high school science book.
              I, for one, am not afraid to dream! So, get out of here, Doctor
              Kimmel. And take your presumptive pomp with you!
Kimmel: Well, I...
Marvin:  [Standing up] You what? Ashley! Show Doctor Kimmel the door!
              Good day to you, sir!
              [Ashely enters the room and directs Doctor Kimmel offstage]
Kimmel: Of course, you realize....
Marvin:  I said good day, sir!
             [Exit Kimmel]
             [Enter Nergel]
Nergel:  Master? Are you allright? I heard the noise....
Marvin:  [Sarcastically and curt] Splendid! Dr. Kimmel was just visiting.
Nergel:  Dr. Kimmel? From the guild?
Marvin:  The very one, Nergel. I don't think we'll be getting any more mail
              from that guild. Moreover, I don't think we'll be getting anymore of
              the guild's funding. By the way, did you happen to find anything
              marked heavenly?
Nergel:  No, Master, I'm sorry.
Marvin:  Ahh, no matter.
Nergel:  Maybe your brother..hey, wait! Your brother's key!
Marvin: What about it?
Nergel:  Perhaps, this is fate telling you to find what that key unlocks.
Marvin:  [Enlightenened] Nergel! My god, man, you're right!
Nergel:  Of course I am, Master. But first you should wire your brother and
              verify his intentions?
Marvin:  Quite right, Nergel! Quite Right! Ready my carriage! We're going to
              to make a phone call!
Nergel:  Right away, Master.

[Exit Nergel]
[Fade to Black]
[End Scene II]


Invino Veritas
10/22/12
EOF

Daring to Dream or How to Stop Worrying About Finances and Start Loving the Death Ray

[Marvin, the mad scientist, and his trusty sidekick, Nergel are in
the workshop. Nergel is dusting the arcane machines while whistling
a happy tune. Marvin sits at a small, round table off-center of the
scene mulling over his latest design.]


Marvin:  Nergel! I think I have it!
Nergel:  What's that, Master?
Marvin:  Behold!
              [Holds up the design]
              It's a new evil death ray!
Nergel:  An "evil" death ray?
Marvin:  Yes! An evil death ray!
              [Cackles maniacally]
Nergel:  Pardon me, Master, but wouldn't it be better to simply refer to
             it as a "death ray" ?
Marvin:  Huh?
Nergel:  Well, sir, forgive me but, death rays are neither new nor heavenly.
Marvin:  But it's not heavenly; it's evil!
Nergel:  Yes, Master, I only meant that to say its evil is, well, frankly,
             superfluous.
Marvin:  [Blankly] All I heard was it's super.
Nergel:  Not super, Master. Superfluous.
Marvin:  Yes, exactly!
Nergel:  Master, it's not necessary to refer to it as an evil death ray because
             there's nothing about being a death ray that makes it anything but
             evil. You can't have a heavenly or otherwise goodly death ray!
Marvin:  [Crumpling his design into a ball]
              My god Nergel! You're a genius! I'll make a heavenly death ray!
              [Stands and kisses him on the cheek in elation]
Nergel:  [Frustrated, Rolls his eyes]
             As you wish, sir.
Marvin:  This is fantastic! Finally, some validation, some direction, some
              purpose! Say it with me, Nergel: Heavenly Death Ray! Can't
              you imagine?
Nergel:  Well, no, not actually...
Marvin:  Oh, quit being so negative! Have some faith. Have some vision!
              Dare to dream, man!
Nergel:  It certainly would be daring, I'm afraid, Master.
Marvin:  I knew you'd see it my way! We can put it over here next to the
             Discombobulator. What color should I make it?
Nergel:  [Cynically] Oh, pink. Definitely, pink.
Marvin:  Pink?
Nergel:  With green polka dots.
Marvin:  Polka dots?
             [Raises an eyebrow]
Nergel:  [Remembering suddenly]
             Oh! Hey! The mail came. You got a few letters.
             [Retrieves five letters from within his jacket]
             I see your brother mailed you again.
Marvin:  [Snatching the mail from Nergel]
              Let's see...bills, bills, Metaphysical American renewal form...
              [Sets the rebewal form aside]
              Hmmph! Oh, and lookee here! [Emphasizing to Nergel]
              A letter from the North American Guild of Unconventional
              Scientists!
Nergel:  And just how much money are they asking for this time?
Marvin:  [Smirking] I'll have you know, my esteemed assistant, that
              Dr. Eldrich Von Kimmel is a dear colleague and friend of mine,
              and a great scientist.
Nergel:  [Sarcastically] Oh, my apologies, Master! It must have been
             my proclivity towards historic correctness in these matters that
             capitulated my insolence.
Marvin:  [Staring at Nergel, contemplatively] You're right. We'd better
             take a look at the letter from my brother, Jeremy, first.
             [Opens the letter and begins reading]
             My dear brother yadda yadda...glad you're doing well blah blah
             happy birthday and so on and so on. [Pauses] Oh, here we are:
             Here is my donation to your endeavors to make the world a
             better place. I enclose...[Suprised and annoyed] fifty dollars.
             Fifty dollars? What does he expect me to build with this?
             [Reading some more] In addition, I also enclose this finely
             crafted key as I have no doubt that when the time comes, you
             will be able to unlock the door to what it is that you are looking
             for in your world of science. You're loving brother, Jeremy.
             [Holds up the key and looks at it]
             Weird, though as keys go, it's a nice key.
Nergel:  I suppose that's true, Master. A pretty metaphorical trinket
             indeed, sir.
Marvin:  Yeah, well, it's probably just that: metaphorical. He probably
              thinks he's being poignant and clever. My brother, the great
              Necromancer!  Raiser of the dead, wielder of dark dreams,
              and magician from beyond, bestows upon me...this key. Well,
              poppycock! Still, I wonder what it might go to. [Ponders]
Nergel:  Perhaps it unlocks a chest of some kind, or perhaps a door.
Marvin:  Who knows? It could be any one of a number of doors in this
              old house. There are over one hundred rooms in this old castle
              and I probably haven't seen twenty of them. This old place was
              built a long time ago and I'm sure there are any number of buried
              mysteries hidden inside its crumbling walls. No matter, though.
              We've got a death ray to build! Nergel! Ready my carriage! We're
              going to the hardware store. I need supplies!
Nergel:  As you wish, Master.

[Exit Nergel]
[Fade to black]
[End Scene]

Iota

Iota

Bears don't purr,
And lions do not bleat,
Ducks have bills,
Snakes bear no feet.,
Birds have feathers,
And sharks eat meat,
Be who you are,
Be what you be.

Tigers don't pretend,
Elephants don't forget,
Wolverines don't bluff,
Or make good pets,
Eels don't swindle,
Nor make risky bets,
They are what they are,
They be what they be.

Viruses invade,
And fungus spreads,
Molds grow stalks,
And sheep have keds,
Bacteria live on fingers,
And children's heads,
They are what they are.
And they will always be.


Invino Veritas
10/3/12
EOF

The Indelicate Sound of Thunder

[Zeus, King of the Gods, lounges around the throne room in a state of despair
  and loss, plagued by boredom as he sighs over again while sipping ambrosia.
  Looking out the opening in the wall is his wife, Hera, Queen of the Gods.
  Hera has a scowl upon her face as she crosses her arms and stares a laser-
  guided line of sight out the window towards the ground and the land of 
  the mortals. ]

Zeus:  [Sighing] By my brother's mantle, Hera, I am bored! Struck am I as
          the belly of Uranus by Eris' morning light. Why, I'm so bored, I could
          simply....[Pauses]
Hera:  [Distracted] Hmm?
Zeus:  Hell, I don't know what I'd do to be quite honest. But it would be
          certainly either fantastic or tremendous - that I can assure you!
Hera:  Yes, dear. Tremendous. Me too.
Zeus:  Hera? Aren't you listening to me? I'm bored! In these last ten thousand
          or so years, I swear I have done everything! [Mumbling to himself]
          Atleast I think so....
Hera:  [Turning] Oh, quit being so morose, Zeus! Surely you haven't done
          everyone!
Zeus:  [Caught off-guard] Everyone?
Hera:  [Coyly] Hmm?
Zeus:  [Frustrated, waves his hands] Nevermind! It doesn't matter! I must
          have entertainment!
Hera:  You could always wash the chariot....
Zeus:  [Smirks]
Hera:  [Eggingly] Oh! I know!
Zeus:  What? What is it, woman!?
Hera:  You could mop the palace! 

[Zeus folds his arms angrily and stares at Hera as she incitefully smiles
 at him and bats her eyelashes at him.]


Zeus:  Oh, hardee har har. While I'm at it, I might as well prune the bushes!
Hera:  Well, I don't think we have to worry about that around here.
Zeus:  Damn right, Hera! You know why? Because I am the king of the...
          [Realizes Hera's doublespeak]..Hey! Wait a minute! That is not...
Hera:  [Sternly] Zeus! Listen to me! I have work to do. Go outside and play.
          Don't you have subjects? Go tend to them! I'm sure there's one that
          deserves your attention!
Zeus:  Fine! As you wish, my [Mockingly] Queen.
          [Exit Zeus]
Hera:  Finally!

[Hera sighs heavily and turns to the window, staring back down towards
 the ground below Mount Olympus. Occaisonally she makes gestures of
 arcane significance, seeming to smile devilishly as she is pleased with
 her handiwork.]

[Enter Hephaestus]

Hephaestus: Hera! As requested, mother, your golden bathing vessel is
          complete.
Hera:  [Rolls her eyes at the intrusion] Thank you, Hephaestus. There are
          no other requests of you right now. You may leave.
Hephaestus: I'll take my leave in that case.
          [Hephaestus moves towards the hallway, but is caught by Hera]
Hera:  [Stopping and turning] Hephaestus...?
Hephaestus: [Turning] Yes, mother?
Hera:  Hephaestus, tell me something? How is Aphrodite?
Hephaestus: How's that,  Hera? How's Aphrodite?
          [Hephaestus re-enters the room, approaching Hera]
Hera:  I mean are you two...happy? I mean, how do you and Aphrodite
          fare after these many years? Good, I hope?
Hephaestus: [Smiling] Mother, when I rise every morning it is Apollo's
          big brilliant orb there hanging in the sky, but to me I see only
          Aphrodite. She is the light that shines from my furnace's fire, the
          flame that dances over every setting and hilt that graces my foundry.
          It is because of that her visage never fades. She is always first when
          I rise and last when the day ends as I rest my head in Artemis' silver
          light. You want to know how we fare? I can only speak of myself as
          I am wary and know of nature, but I can say with certainty that I fare
          well, mother. I fare well.
Hera:  Son, I don't think you've ever told me that.
Hepheastus: Mother, I don't believe you've ever asked.
Hera:  [Tearing] Oh, my son....!
Hephaestus:  What is it, mother?
Hera:  I've been a fool, Hephaestus. I abandoned your father when he needed me. Now,
          knowing your father, I may very well have cut out my own heart with a dagger
          fit for his grip. No wonder he does te things that he does. All these years I thought
          that he did it to spite me or perhaps it was just his nature. But I see now my error.
Hephaestus:  Mother, it is true that love is an investment in someone other than yourself.
Hera:  When did you get so wise, Hephaestus?
Hephaestus: Wise? No, mother, not wise. I just had a good teacher, I guess.
          [Hephaestus smiles at Hera, embracing his mother]
Hera:  [Tearfully chuckling] Go, Hepheastus. Go home to your wife, and love her. And
          if you see your father, tell him...tell him don't worry about the chariot.
Hephaestus: What?
Hera:  Don't ask, he'll know what I'm talking about.
Hephaestus: Ok, mother. Be well.
          [Exit Hephaestus]

[Hera grabs a goblet of ambrosia, sipping occasionally and staring out the window
 with a distant stare. Her gaze seems a million miles away, but then shifts her line
 of sight, cursing and pointing a finger back down to the ground. He anger at the
 mortals below returns as she puts her goblet down and starts to gesture again.]

Hera:  Oh, no you don't, Peleus! I see you down there hiding in the bushes!
          [Makes a pointing gesture toward the world below as Zeus returns
           with a clap of thunder, arms akimbo and proud of himself; Enter Zeus.]
Zeus: [Brushing olive twigs and flower petals off his body] Ahh! Fantastic! Exhilarating! 
Hera:  [Startled] Zeus! Where did you come from?
Zeus:  Oh, my dove, you should have been there! There was dancing, music, something
          called 'Karaoke' --
Hera:  [Raises an eyebrow; Zeus takes notice]
Zeus:  I know! I was totally the same way! But all it is, dearest, is singing the songs of
          other people and gods. Sounds dumb, I know, but it can be quite fun. At first,
          I wasn't sure, but then I realized I was the best singer there! 
Hera:  [Sits on Zeus' lap and hugs him]
Zeus:  What's this? [Cautious] Wait a minute. What do you want me to do?
Hera:  Nothing, I swear! I'm just glad you're back.
Zeus:  Really?
Hera:  [Smiles and kisses him on the cheek] Promise, my king.
Zeus:  Well then, in that case, hail to the king, baby. Hail to the king.

[Fade to black]

Hera:  Zeus?
Zeus: Yes, my dear?
Hera:  Why do you smell like nymphs and dryads?

[End Act]


Invino Veritas
10/2/12
EOF


         
         

Corsair

Corsair

Reindeer games and heart-shaped candy,
Tricks, not treats, tikes namby-pamby
Sugar and spice, everything nice,
Children are cruel;
That is my advice.

Cherry surprise waiting inside,
Promised you dreams, instead he lied,
Snips and snails and puppy dog tails,
Children are cruel,
Tragic'ly pale.

Pizza bones and some cabernet,
Will make the nightmares go away,
Unless, of course, you have forgot,
People are cruel,
To those distraught.

So, gild your children's claws and spines,
Brandish wrath, judgment divine,
Thence villian's bones scattered astray,
Became you cruel,
At last, that day.


Invino Veritas
10/1/12