Discovery of Fire

Discovery of Fire
Miroslav Holub

He went
and picked it up,
brought it
in a container
of silicon glass,
with asbestos gloves,
in the indifferent darkness.

He showed it to them,
the blue-purple
gay
flame,
deeply troubled
that it was not going to work,
that it was not it.
It was it,
the first steak
could be smelt
and the feet of the first heretic
started to burn.

Zeus didn't give a damn
and Hera
really liked it.

He, Prometheus,
returned
to think up
the blow-torch.
But it didn't work out this time
and only fetters
grew on his ankles
& wrists
& out of his grey head
flew an eagle
and jabbed
and jabbed.

- Miroslav Holub, translated by Ian and Jarmila Milner

(from breathe_poetry)

Discovery of Fire

Discovery of Fire
Miroslav Holub

He went
and picked it up,
brought it
in a container
of silicon glass,
with asbestos gloves,
in the indifferent darkness.

He showed it to them,
the blue-purple
gay
flame,
deeply troubled
that it was not going to work,
that it was not it.
It was it,
the first steak
could be smelt
and the feet of the first heretic
started to burn.

Zeus didn't give a damn
and Hera
really liked it.

He, Prometheus,
returned
to think up
the blow-torch.
But it didn't work out this time
and only fetters
grew on his ankles
& wrists
& out of his grey head
flew an eagle
and jabbed
and jabbed.

- Miroslav Holub, translated by Ian and Jarmila Milner

(from breathe_poetry)