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Wednesday 4 April 2012

blasphemy and unicorns

from a Tenth Daughter of Memory prompt.


Magic-powered unicorn
medicinal tears
universal panaceas
for all man's ills and fears.

Bullish, ox-strong unicorn
God borrows strength from flesh.
Untamable and agile
offers man of God's redress.

Stylish kosher unicorn
with coat of many colours -
was it yours that Joseph craved?
Devotions at all hours.

Metaphoric unicorn,
all wonders to all men
God-exemplar here on earth,
God-proxy there in heaven.

Fertile-making unicorn
aphrodisiacal horn
God commands us multiply
a race uniquely born.

Gross blaspheming unicorn
commandeering God's own ways
usurps His special powers -
arrogance of modern days.

...........................................
You might be surprised to learn that there are nine references to unicorns in the Bible.

20 comments:

Dave King said...

No post yesterday
no replies yesterday
no visits yesterday
no broadband yesterday
Apologies.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Didn't even know unicorns were mentioned in the Bible Dave. I love them in tapestries, pictures etc. and love your take on them.

Sujoy Ghosh said...

A great poetic tribute to the mythical one-horned horse. Loved it!

You are a master craftsman and I am learning so much from you.

Thank you.

Manicddaily said...

Hi David,

I am surprised, and interested to read your informative, lyrical poem. My favorite appearance of the unicorn is in Terry Pratchett, but then I love just about anything by Pratchett. (I think it's in Lords and Ladies--Granny Weatherwax has a go.)

K.

Rachna Chhabria said...

This poem is really nice and so is the one in the comments section. Two great poems in one post :)

PattiKen said...

Welcome to 10thDoM, Dave! Glad to have you aboard. You know, I've been thinking about why unicorns might have been (so famously) left off the Ark. Your poem offers a multiplicity of reasons, even if one considers both Ark and animal metaphorical. Good one.

Daydreamertoo said...

What a lovely tale. Wouldn't it be so wonderful to discover these magical beasts were indeed real at one time.
You know Dave, even the Giants (Nephilim)are also mentioned twice in the Bible. I guess, there are some things 'the powers that be' back then didn't mind leaving in it. I always think all tales and legends begin way back when in their truth and become corrupted by different story tellers own embellishments. I think Dragons, and such existed at one time, maybe they evolved into something else through inter-species breeding and such but, man didn't just 'dream' them up, they had to have been 'seen' at some point in time or, they could never have just imagined them as looking as they did.
I find it all so fabulous and thoroughly intriguing.
Good to have you back again, internet and all :)

Maude Lynn said...

This is outstanding!

Janine Bollée said...

..and only four in Shakespeare, as I happened to read yesterday. [I've got Bill Bryson's Life of Shakespeare by my bed].For some reason I thought he would have used more.
To -e- or not to -e- ?
Thanks to you I have finally sorted the tam[e]able question trawling through my head for years.

Brian Miller said...

this is very interesting...i did not realize it...and will have to google it to read them myself...fascinating...thanks for the enlightening verse dave...

Mary said...

I am amazed to learn that unicorns were mentioned in the Bible. I will definitely have to check that out. Who knows? Maybe they were not only mythical after all. This was a fascinating post.

(I think you made a typo in the third line. Take a look. I do this occasionally as well.)

Ygraine said...

How I enjoyed reading about your many-aspected Unicorn.
To me, the Unicorn and White Hart are one and the same being who symbolises love beyond death, or sexual temptation (depending on your moral viewpoint).
A truly facinating read, Dave :)

Tommaso Gervasutti said...

I coudn't but laugh aloud for the energy and irony of this poem Dave, the last stanza in particular. Great.
I keep thinking of the tremendous variery of tones of your poetic voice.

Kat Mortensen said...

I AM surprised! (Not surprised to learn of it here though.)
Excellent! I really like to see the rhyme. I do love reading and writing it!

I like the "kosher" one best. (Heading for my Bible now)

Windsmoke. said...

Very enjoyable and rhythmic. A bit of a rascal the Unicorn in the last stanza i'd say :-).

Dave King said...

The Weaver of Grass
No, I didn't know, either until I read the prompt. Looking up "unicorn" in the concordance, I discovered that there were nine references in the Bible, though it's not certain we are speaking of the same beast. What most surprised me was the reference given in the prompt, which was to a text in the Psalms.

Sujoy
Hi, really good to have you visiting. Thank you for the kind comment.

Manicddaily
Well, I'm with you all the way where Terry Pratchett is concerned. I must look it up. Thanks.

Rachna
Thank yo so much for this.

PattiKen
And a warm welcome to you. Thank you for visiting. It's a strange question, but it may be just a question of semantics. A great prompt, though.

Daydreamertoo
Many thanks for the response. Yes, I am sure dragons - and no doubt many other quasi-mythical beasts existed at some stage, among the dinosaurs most likely.

Mama Zen
Thanks for your kind response.

aprille
A very warm welcome to you. Good to have your visit and your thoughts. Yes, the Shakespeare fact is a little surprising, I feel. To tame or not to tame, maybe?

Brian
I was equally surprised, but hen the Bible never ceases to surprise...

Mary
I did indeed. So obvious now you've pointed it out. Thanks for doing so.

Ygraine
Fascinating, though, to speculate - from the scraps of evidence available - what it stood for in Biblical days. Thanks for your thoughts.

Tommaso
Thanks a lot for this. Yes, I keep thinking it is time I reigned the voice in a bit, but then I think everyone thooght that artists should find a consistent style in which to paint - until Picasso blew the theory wide apart.

Kat
Thanks for this. Surprise seems to be the response of the day.

Windsmoke
Oh, left to its own devices, I am quite sure it ....

Tom said...

aha. well, some like a bit of competition - let's bring the unicorn back. Nice one, a joy to read your rhymes

Baino said...

Welcome to Tenth Daughter Dave. Nice interpretation of the muse. Dont forget to read the other entries and cast your vote. I did know about the unicorns in the bible. Formiddable creatures by all accounts

JeffScape said...

Ooh, another poet! Welcome to 10thDoM!

Harnett-Hargrove said...

Well crafted hit on the muse. Nice to see you at the DoM. -J