The goddess Inanna has once again descended into the Underworld, perished, and then was resurrected first thanks to her lover and ultimately thanks to her best friend, who, in this upside-down version, becomes the Messiah – the female Messiah – yet not a divine one, but fully human, who sacrifices herself without the hope for returning to life. Once again, I have encountered very different reactions to this text, ranging from very positive, to uncertain and wondering what it is really about, to very negative. According to one person, the whole thing is  pure graphomania... All of which probably speaks as highly of this text as possible. Certainly, Friday evening was quite moving for me. I felt as if the whole story about gods, demigods, demons flooding the world and unsuspecting people wanting to dance despite the impending doom was very appropriate in the context of the entire last year separating the originally planned date of showing of the opera at the PRNSO (Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra in Katowice) from the date when it finally could take place. Nevertheless, we go towards the light and hope, in spite of the inevitable sacrifices. 

According to one interpretation of the Inanna myth, it was an attempt to explain the “Morning Star” phenomenon. That is, as we know today, the planet Venus, whose trajectory is such that it is often clearly visible in the morning. I have long succumbed to the belief that this scientific explanation, consistent with observation and hypothesis about the physical nature of the world, is wiser and better. Now I cannot help feeling that, yes, it does offer a kind of a peace of mind, but it does not really explain anything. Either one is a myth. Both are fascinating.

In any case, this is more about dawn than dusk.

Pokora – I am waiting for the text. But something of the music, quite a lot of it, actually, is already coming together. Apart from the novel itself, I am also reading Szczepan’s recent essays published in Wyborcza. They are very good and they relate very much to Pokora. Powerful and personal. And then there’s the A People’s History of Poland I mentioned before, and also Poland and the Modern World: Beyond Martyrdom (Brian Porter-Szűcs). Interesting stuff; right along the rising tide of respect to private narratives.