Ecdysis

"…but when I became a man,

I put away childish things." (1 Corinthians 13:11)

 

Trinkets and toys,

Unconcerned childish joys,

Deep, undisturbed sleep,

Mother’s love -- unfailing, deep,

Hope, rooted in ignorance,

A must for the weak: trust

In Life, in the goodness of man,

In the future, in the hope that

For all of us, there is a plan, and

A path, though tough and steep,

But at the end of which what

Awaits is restful peace and sleep.

 

Now, all these fall away like the

Dry branches of a dead tree.

What’s left is a dull mirror, and

Tired eyes that look but can’t see.

The magnet of the world lost its hold,

Its iron fists corrode, passions

Tire of themselves, they too grow old.

When the time comes,

The snakes crawls out of his skin,

What looks like death is but a turning

Of what’s sick, damaged, and old,

Into a radiant serpent made of gold.   

 

 

 

Reviews

[W. Barrett Munn]

The dichotomy of this quote in Corinthians has always perplexed me. What exemplifies immature, childish thinking more than continued belief in magic solutions?

[Laz K.]

Thank you for reading an commenting.

(What follows is my thinking process having read your comment. It's my attempt at clarifying the issue to myself, not a rebuttal:)

Matthew 18:3 "Truly I tell you," He said, "unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

It's not only the Bible, but the Romantic poets as well, that idolized childhood. Or, Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye.

What are "magic solutions"? Belief in a higher power? In transformation through faith? What else are we to believe in? Politicians and technocrats and AI?

The Bible quote in the epigraph doesn't suggest that bridges or rockets or skyscrapers or electric cars will be built by the power of prayer. "My kingdom is not of this earth," so maybe the quote (and the poem) refer to a psycho-magical reality, and to transformation: what’s “sick, damaged, and old” falls away, and something renewed and radiant emerges. The “magic” is not naïve idiocy, but inner alchemy that can turn exhaustion and loss into clarity and strength.

[W. Barrett Munn]

In other words, belief in magic.

[Laz K.]

It seems that you attach a negative connotation to the word "magic." It's your prerogative. But, it'd be more helpful if you actually explained what you mean, what bothers you about this word/concept.

[W. Barrett Munn]

The illusionist David Copperfield on television made a jet airliner disappear. That is magic with more evidence that it was genuine than any religious magic (termed miracles) has.

[Laz K.]

I respect your conviction regarding this issue. Now, go in peace, brother :)

[W. Barrett Munn]

Thanks for listening. My stance is what the world needs is more critical thinkers.