June 2010

born, live, die

An unusual color to this folder on my blog ... especially if I used to talk about my lovely little city, its river I see from my window at the end of the fall and hide myself a lime tree in summer, my various works, including those on the old camp for Gypsies ... and others during the Second World War, never completed study to which I devoted three decades of indifference, rejection, disappointment and rich encounters ...
This Saturday morning in June, I accompanied friends who were driving their mother to his final resting place, and I finally wanted to write this melancholy that angry deaf to every loss of a loved one. It is born and we die without asking, and in between, must furnish, at times as desired, often as they can. Filling ... Pascal proposed distraction when trying forget our human condition ... bulimic my work ...
And every time before the death physically present, as Alyosha Karamazov revolt before the remains of his protector, I think these words of the Mesopotamian epic of Gilgamesh, etched in cuneiform writing on clay.

This epic, old five thousand years before Jesus Christ, is the oldest literary text written by men known to date. It tells the story of this king of Uruk, went in search of life without end. In this excerpt, Gilgamesh is deeply "troubled" by the death he discovers through that of his companion Enkidu (*)...
This version is the one I prefer different translations encountered.

(*) Enkidu represents just the opposite of civilized man: he lives in the desert among the beasts. The civilizing process Enkidu begins with a sexual union with a harlot. After the act, the animals no longer recognize, he lost much of its animal strength, but in return he acquired the understanding and speech. Then, gradually, the courtesan would make him a civilized being. So the symbolism behind Enkidu can be summarized in the primordial stage in which we have encountered distant ancestors: that of animality to humanity. (Source: Wikipedia)

Gilgamesh, center, between Enkidu - XIIth century BC
Museum of Aleppo, Syria. Photo J. Sigot

*
Near the shore stands the tavern Siddur sees Gilgamesh approach, worrying traveler, but of divine flesh coated with an animal skin, bronzed by the wind, cold, sun , cheeks hollowed out by the fatigue of travel and face shot by the anxiety that gnaws at him. She was afraid at first, took him for an assassin, and bar the door refuge on the roof of the house. Gilgamesh, the noise she made in closing, look up and the apostrophe, requiring him to open his door, otherwise he was stoned. She asks him who he is. He introduced himself and Siddur, who got wind of his exploits, ask him what he did here. Gilgamesh says to him the object of his quest, his despair and fear of death.

The fate of the men hit my companion
my little brother.
one I loved so much love,
who accompanied me in all events
became what all men become.
I cried night and day,
I lamented him six days and seven nights
telling me that he would rise
by the force of my tears and my lamentations.
I did not want to engage in the tomb,
I kept six days and seven nights.
After his death, I have found life.
For fear of death
me here in the desert.
What happened to my friend
weighs too heavy on my chest.
What happened to my friend, haunting me.
How can I find rest, how could I
keep quiet?
My friend whom I loved so much love
became clay, and I also
should I go to bed and never get up?

*
Siddur said to Gilgamesh:
Gilgamesh Where are you going?
The life you seek you will not find her.
When the great gods created man, is death
they destinèrent
them and they kept them for eternal life, but you Gilgamesh,
that your stomach is constantly sated,
am happy night and day dancing and playing,
do every day of your life
a celebration of joy and pleasure,
that your clothes are clean and sumptuous
wash your head and bathe yourself,
flatters the child who holds you by the hand,
glad the wife is in your arms.
Those are the only rights that men have. (**)

(**) Other translation thereof been communicated to me:

When the gods created mankind, death is
they have reserved for men.
life they have chosen for them in their hands. You
Gilgamesh, let your stomach is satiated,
day and night rejoice,
each day do the festival,
day and night dance and play music;
that your clothes are immaculate;
head well washed, bathe yourself with plenty of water;
contemplates the little that holds you by the hand,
the beloved rejoice in thy bosom!
This is the occupation of men.