Shalom Bob,
Thank you for your insights yet once more.
All you mention, I have thought about. Yes, I had the last judgment in mind.
I will especially consider the heavy arms.
kol tuv, Ryfkah
In a message dated 9/6/02 4:35:12 AM, [log in to unmask] writes:
<< Hi Ryfkah,
A chilling poem. Finely done as well! (And there's a mark of interest in the
point that this has appeared on my screen when war is again on the Middle
East's - and the world's - agenda... So I like the irony of a Jewish suicide
bomber!).
I had a slight hesitation about the bull in the ring metaphor... but then I
thought of Franco's Spain and it's complicity with Nazi Germany: and I
thought it may be OK. Have you any other thoughts on the choice (I mean it's
visually appropriate, but has it other resonances!). And, because I don't
know much about the ritual of bull-fighting, is the sword hidden behind the
matador's back while the bull charges? (ie, how aware is the bull of his
fate in his final run?)
The image you have of Dr. Death is also powerful. With the words "right or
left" I found myself thinking about the New Testament parable of The Sheep &
The Goats (and, in that story, where the goats sent to the fires of Hell? -
Ha, perhaps I shouldn't be asking this! Perhaps I should get out of my chair
and look it up!!!)
And, as a final query, when you say "heavy arms" I guess you mean artillery?
Do the words "heavy arms" have an intentional contrast - are they intended
to contrast to the slight/thin arms of children? It seems you're using a
metaphorical phrase to contrast to something that's not mentioned in the
poem. I guess I'd like to see a child's actual arms mentioned in the poem or
some word like artillery (or mortars, or howitzers, or some such thing) used
instead of "heavy arms".
The ending, tho, (with the guy sitting "like god") is so starkly chilling.
Bob >>
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