Book IIEuropean Constructions of the Future
To you, thank you for being in this world in this book as you are.
The rapture of Europe (in quest of Europe)
Europe, where is Europe ?
She is on the shore.
She bridges the gap, she brings the breath.
The sea legs, hair blowing in the wind.
It was here that we saw her, O king, exclaimed the people to her father.
She is amongst the plants and beasts.
She makes the light, she brings the life.
Facing the moon she sings, walking over hills and dales.
It was there that we saw her, O father, exclaimed Europe’s brothers to Agenor.
Europe, where is Europe ?
She rises with the mountains. She scents herself with the flowers.
She hollers with the wolves. She digs with the worms.
She sings with the birds, and the birds sing her.
She is amongst the plants and beasts, across the wide earth.
The myth says that Europe – Phoenician princess daughter of Telephassa and Agenor king of Tyre – met Zeus metamorphosed into a bull, who took her away to the other side of the sea (to Crete or north of the Bosporus) and reverted to his humanoid form. This is where they mate.
Europe’s parents are devastated, they can no longer find their daughter. Agenor sends the brothers of Europe, Cadmus, Cilix and Phoenix, accompanied by Telephassa, in search of her. They will search for their whole lives. They won’t find her.
The prophet1 says:
Your children are not your children.
They come through you but not of you.
And although they are with you, they do not belong ...
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