Thursday, April 17, 2025

17 April - Roger Zelazny Poetry Month - Home is the Hangman

Whew! Just under the wire! Today’s story is Home is the Hangman, one of Zelazny’s finest novellas. best of the Legion stories. 

A deep space exploration robot returns for revenge.

This is another poem where I'm confident I got it right. Or at least, didn't get it wrong. 

The Tyger, by William Blake. He got bumped for Creatures of Light and Darkness but he's finally having his moment.

It's one of the best known poems in the English language. Even people who don't like poetry know it. 

I think it fits, because it asks What does that nature of a thing say about the one who created it?

Tyger Tyger, burning bright, 
In the forests of the night; 
What immortal hand or eye, 
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies. 
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat.
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp.
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears 
And water'd heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?


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