Prelude to Space (C.S. Lewis)

So Man, grown vigorous now,
Holds himself ripe to breed,
Daily devises how
To ejaculate his seed
And boldly fertilize
The black womb of the unconsenting skies.

Some now alive expect
(I am told) to see the large,
Steel member grow erect,
Turgid with the fierce charge
Of our whole planet’s skill,
Courage, wealth, knowledge, concentrated will,

Straining with lust to stamp
Our likeness on the abyss-
Bombs, gallows, Belsen camp,
Pox, polio, Thais’ kiss
Or Judas, Moloch’s fires
And Torquemada’s (sons resemble sires).

Shall we, when the grim shape
Roars upward, dance and sing?
Yes: if we honour rape,
If we take pride to Ring
So bountifully on space
The sperm of our long woes, our large disgrace.

I’m kinda ambivalent about the space program, but Clive clearly wasn’t.

13 Responses to “Prelude to Space (C.S. Lewis)”


  1. 1 Morphea

    Goodness gracious me.

  2. 2 aly hawkins

    Crazy, huh? He should have turned his hand to pulpy romance novels - he wouldn’ve made a mint.

  3. 3 Morphea

    I’m showing this to Ramon. He’ll want to call it “Playing Rocketship” from now on.

  4. 4 ash

    Dare I say he sort comes off as a dick?

  5. 5 Morphea

    Witty bastard you are. Here, it’s MY turn to brush your hair.

  6. 6 aly hawkins

    Time out, peeps. I think I see the line back in the distance…let’s go back there and see if we can re-cross.
    .
    Please keep it clean!

  7. 7 Bobby

    Tell that to our turgid friend Mr. Lewis…

    You kiss your mother with that mouth Ash?

  8. 8 Morphea

    Hey, WHOA. I din’ mean NUTHIN’ naughty about brushing Ash’s hair. I was going back to the (purely platonic) pajama party thing. You’re right, though - wanna delete my “Playing Rocketship” comment?

  9. 9 ash

    Appologies all around. I sometimes rocket over the line. Preparing for atmospheric re-entry…

  10. 10 Morphea

    That reminds me. I’ve had “Rocket’s Tail” by Kate Bush in my head all day. Hail to thee, Brave Discovery Seven.
    .
    Yes, YES, I apologize, too. Aly’ll tell ya, I have a mind from the gutter and get quite sulky when reproved. All she has to do is raise that one eyebrow and I know I’ve done it.
    .
    Cerise

  11. 11 Chad

    penis

  12. 12 Morphea

    CHAD!

  13. 13 Chad

    Isn’t this the game where you say it louder and louder in a public place? My bad.

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