Saturday, 2 July 2011

The Greeks Had a Word for It!

Xenophobia has had
an interesting life.

Xenia in Ancient Greece
meant hospitality -

or by the strangest
quirk, meant strange.

In Rome it was
a poem, one

tied to a gift
a guest was given.

It sounds as though
the party bags

we give our childrens' friends
are slightly xenophobic.
at

15 comments:

  1. Anonymous2 July 2011 at 09:03

    So nothing to do with not being a fan of Xena: Warrior Princess then?

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  2. Isabel Doyle2 July 2011 at 09:44

    I would have said highly xenophobic - like peace offerings to demons ...

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  3. Dave King2 July 2011 at 11:39

    Jim
    No, not a lot. I've heard about her. That's about it, I'm afraid.

    Isabel
    Ooh-er, that's not very P.C.!

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  4. Mary2 July 2011 at 13:28

    An interesting exploration of a word I have seldom encountered, Dave!

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  5. SG2 July 2011 at 13:43

    Ah! So by direct translation, xenophobia, apart from being a fear of strangers, is a fear of hospitality, or may be a fear of extending hospitality. Interesting!

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  6. David Cranmer2 July 2011 at 14:13

    Starting a poem with the word Xenophobia is nothing short of awesome.

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  7. Carl2 July 2011 at 15:05

    Great exploratory poem. You really do make me want to try my hand it writing poems.

    I was impressed by your last two posts as well, but was wiped out after long days and did not get to respond.

    Carl

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  8. Cait O'Connor2 July 2011 at 16:58

    I like the idea of a poem as a gift

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  9. Jenny Woolf2 July 2011 at 19:42

    Maybe giving a poem attached to a gift to departing guests is something we could do for our grown up friends too.

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  10. flaubert2 July 2011 at 20:25

    I like this, Dave. Reminds of when we first moved to Mexico. We lived in a tiny village. I experienced some of that "fear of gringos" syndrome.

    Pamela

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  11. Helena2 July 2011 at 21:07

    Yeah. I see what you mean.

    Mind you, there are some X-'rated' words I'd like to leave on certain kids' party bags but I'm much to polite and friendly....*ahem*...to do so!

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  12. CiCi2 July 2011 at 22:03

    Yikes, when you put it like that, maybe the little gift bags for kids are not such a good idea?
    On the other hand, maybe putting poems on a gift bag is good to give adults.

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  13. Windsmoke.2 July 2011 at 23:09

    Are kids becoming xenophobic about party bags or doggy bags as we call 'em down here in OZ how sad. The poem idea is a good one :-).

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  14. Anonymous3 July 2011 at 01:17

    very creative this one.
    happy potluck

    my post was here
    http://blackswanpoetry.wordpress.com/2011/06/19/poem-smeared/

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  15. Dave King4 July 2011 at 09:15

    Mary
    Knowing that does the old heart a power of good. Thanks for telling me.

    SG
    Or its strange hospitality!

    David
    And I didn't even realise at the timje that that was what I was being! Can't be bad! Thanks.

    Carl
    Thanks for those kind words, but don't worry about not responding. Aftter another weekend of celebrations I know wiped out!

    Jenny
    Even a poem AS a gift! I wonder how they would be received...

    Cait
    Me too.

    flaubert
    Yes, we tend to forget that it's universal and not all one way.

    Lena
    Ah, now that's a different ball game altogether, but I do know what you mean!

    TechnoBabe
    I think the idea could be extended. I thought this when I saw good luck quotes and mantras etc on the sides of tennis bags at Wimbledon.

    Windsmoke
    I did hear of one child who wouldn't accept a gift bag from the hostess who was a different colour. Makes you wonder why he agreed to go to the party in the first place!

    Blackswanpoetry
    Hi and a warm welcome to you. Thanks for the good wish.

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