Serbian Epic Poetry Puns

How many of non-Serbs here know about it and what do you know? How many of Serbs here like/dislike it and why? Any favorite poems? Anyone knows a poem by heart?

If you've ever read one of the major sci-fi or fantasy magazine, you'll definitely have read a poem by Mary Soon Lee, whether you realized it or not. She's won multiple awards for her speculative poetry, from small poems to full-on stories, but in 2020 she released her best work-- a work that has received little to no attention.

The Sign of the Dragon is a rarity. It’s hard to describe what makes it so great, so I will start with just describing what makes it unique: firstly, its structure (an epic fantasy novel written via 300-something poems) and secondly, its content (a story of a mythic figure, yet extremely personal).

I’ve never heard of a book of speculative poetry with this kind of ambition before. You’d think it would get old after the first hundred or so, but it only becomes more enchanting, immersing you like some epic poem of old. I found myself captivated by the rhythm of it all, the beauty of the words, the magic of its verses. Definitely worked very well for me.

But my favorite part was undoubtedly its story. The tale of King Xau is an inspiring one—in a conversation with Mary Soon Lee, she said people told her everyone is too kind in this book, and this is a sensible statement: nearly every poem, every moment, every fragment of this is saturated with kindness.

King Xau himself is the biggest reason for this: he exudes kindliness with every waking breath! It’s a contagious kind of thing, elevating him very quickly to a legendary status, with many tiny examples of his warmth and gentleness. Yet it never feels naïve—he suffers consequences, the good moments feel well-earned, he becomes this strange mix of a very human person yet a figure of myth.

There are some other hints throughout this story of this being a somewhat mythic tale—we are sometimes unsure whether everything truly happened as it is depicted, or whether this is some cultures version of e.g. the Odyssey. At other moments it clearly “breaks the fourth wall”, mentioning stuff which happens but will not be remembered by the historians.

It’s a very interesting narrative device. I don’t think this story would work as a novel. Neither do I think this will at all appeal to those who cherish grimdark (though it certainly gets dark in times), people who believe all people are fundamentally evil, that lord-of-the-flies crowd.

But if you are one of those Becky Chambers-loving, hopeful people who look for the positive in humanity, if you are someone who wants to read something truly ex

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I'm fire-walking on the building's edge every hour, As if I were cursed, I still live with the faith in God... These two eyes are constantly full of tears... I just can't come to terms with where I am and who I am! I realized long ago that life is a battlefield, but it feels as if I've been always taking the wrong step. I am a fighter, I never preserve myself... I keep losing my health only to solve my problems! God please, help me, soul is fading in pain!!! Used to care for everyone, and who cares for me now?! This room is a nightmares corner! This house is cold and with no roof over!!! I never had big, only small dreams: to have my peace, bread and to be loved. To be able to turn all these shades of gray into a bit warmer colors... HOW MUCH LONGER WILL I BE BROKEN?!?

I OFTEN WISH TO GIVE UP! I SEE NO WAY OUT, BUT STILL NOT SURRENDERING TO THE DEVIL! IN MY 4 WALLS IM EXPRESSING THE OUTRAGE; IT'S ONLY GETTING WORSE, THE STRESS IS GOING TO KILL ME!!! THE BRAIN HAS BROKEN, EYES AND EARS HAVE BROKEN TOO BECAUSE I AM THE ONE WHO CARRIES ALMOST ALL THE BURDEN BY MYSELF FOR TOO LONG! PLEASE, GOD, FORGIVE ME - I'M NOT THE SAME ANYMORE - I'VE GONE COMPLETELY INSANE BECAUSE OF EVERYONE!!!

"Emptiness awaits those who do not love,

While pain is promised to those who do.

Of the two I know not which I'd choose,

But of the three I'd choose to be with you."

The question came up when I was translating the scene in the Metamorphoses Book 1 when Ovid lists all the hunting dogs of Actaeon which I thought was pretty analogous to the list of the ships in the Iliad and was pretty funny which got me wondering, does Ovid parody many other scenes from epic poetry in the rest of the Metamorphoses.

I'm fire-walking on the building's edge every hour, As if I were cursed, I still live with the faith in God... These two eyes are constantly full of tears... I just can't come to terms with where I am and who I am! I realized long ago that life is a battlefield, but it feels as if I've been always taking the wrong step. I am a fighter, I never preserve myself... I keep losing my health only to solve my problems! God please, help me, soul is fading in pain!!! Used to care for everyone, and who cares for me now?! This room is a nightmares corner! This house is cold and with no roof over!!! I never had big, only small dreams: to have my peace, bread and to be loved. To be able to turn all these shades of gray into a bit warmer colors... HOW MUCH LONGER WILL I BE BROKEN?!?

I OFTEN WISH TO GIVE UP! I SEE NO WAY OUT, BUT STILL NOT SURRENDERING TO THE DEVIL! IN MY 4 WALLS IM EXPRESSING THE OUTRAGE; IT'S ONLY GETTING WORSE, THE STRESS IS GOING TO KILL ME!!! THE BRAIN HAS BROKEN, EYES AND EARS HAVE BROKEN TOO BECAUSE I AM THE ONE WHO CARRIES ALMOST ALL THE BURDEN BY MYSELF FOR TOO LONG! PLEASE, GOD, FORGIVE ME - I'M NOT THE SAME ANYMORE - I'VE GONE COMPLETELY INSANE BECAUSE OF EVERYONE!!!