Utnapishtim’s Words: Utnapishtim’s Words: Mason vs. MitchellMason vs. Mitchell

FeracoFeraco

Myth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

17 October 201117 October 2011

Many years ago through loss I learned that Many years ago through loss I learned that love is wrung from our innermost heart love is wrung from our innermost heart until only the loved one is, and we are until only the loved one is, and we are not…not…

I think love kills the heart of flesh. It is the I think love kills the heart of flesh. It is the only way to eternal life, which should be only way to eternal life, which should be unbearable if lived among the dying unbearable if lived among the dying flowers and the shrieking farewells of the flowers and the shrieking farewells of the overstretched arms of our spoiled hopes.overstretched arms of our spoiled hopes.

I think compassion is our God’s pure act I think compassion is our God’s pure act which burns forever…which burns forever…

Mitchell, too, has a wonderful depiction of Mitchell, too, has a wonderful depiction of Utnapishtim’s words.Utnapishtim’s words.

Gilgamesh, why prolong your grief? Gilgamesh, why prolong your grief?

Have you ever paused Have you ever paused

to compare your own blessed lot with a to compare your own blessed lot with a fool’s? fool’s?

You were made from the flesh of both gods You were made from the flesh of both gods and humans; and humans;

the gods have lavished you with their gifts the gods have lavished you with their gifts

as though they were your father and as though they were your father and mothers.mothers.

From your birth they assigned you a From your birth they assigned you a throne and told you, throne and told you,

““Rule over men!” To the fool they Rule over men!” To the fool they gave gave

beer dregs instead of butter, stale beer dregs instead of butter, stale crusts crusts

instead of bread that is fit for gods, instead of bread that is fit for gods, rags instead of magnificent garments, rags instead of magnificent garments, instead of a wide fringed belt an old instead of a wide fringed belt an old

rope, rope, and a frantic, senseless, dissatisfied and a frantic, senseless, dissatisfied

mind.mind.

Can’t you see how fortunate you are? Can’t you see how fortunate you are? You have worn yourself out through You have worn yourself out through

ceaseless striving, ceaseless striving, you have filled your muscles with pain and you have filled your muscles with pain and

anguish. anguish. And what have you achieved but to bring And what have you achieved but to bring

yourself yourself one day nearer to the end of your days? one day nearer to the end of your days? At night the moon travels across the sky, At night the moon travels across the sky, the gods of heaven stay awake and watch the gods of heaven stay awake and watch

us, us, unsleeping, undying. This is the way unsleeping, undying. This is the way the world is established, from ancient the world is established, from ancient

times.times.

Yes: the gods took Enkidu’s life. Yes: the gods took Enkidu’s life.

But man’s life But man’s life isis short, at any moment short, at any moment

it can be snapped, like a reed in a it can be snapped, like a reed in a canebrake. canebrake.

The handsome young man, the lovely young The handsome young man, the lovely young woman – woman –

in their prime, death comes and drags them in their prime, death comes and drags them away. away.

Though no one has seen death’s face or Though no one has seen death’s face or heard heard

death’s voice, suddenly, savagely, death death’s voice, suddenly, savagely, death

destroys us, all of us, old or young.destroys us, all of us, old or young.

And yet we build houses, make And yet we build houses, make contracts, brothers contracts, brothers

divide their inheritance, conflicts divide their inheritance, conflicts occur – occur –

as though this human life lasted as though this human life lasted forever. forever.

The river rises, flows over its banks The river rises, flows over its banks and carries us all away, like mayflies and carries us all away, like mayflies floating downstream: they stare at the floating downstream: they stare at the

sun, sun, then all at once there is nothing.then all at once there is nothing.

The sleeper and the dead, how alike The sleeper and the dead, how alike they are! they are!

Yet the sleeper wakes up and opens Yet the sleeper wakes up and opens his eyes, his eyes,

while no one returns from death. And while no one returns from death. And who who

can know when the last of his days can know when the last of his days will come? will come?

When the gods assemble, they decide When the gods assemble, they decide your fate, your fate,

they establish both life and death for they establish both life and death for you, you,

but the time of death they do not but the time of death they do not reveal.reveal.