The Vestigial Reptilian Brain: Our 'Preverbal Remains' fights to overwrite our evolving script.
Ironically, the part we need for survival could be the part that kills us off!

A Spensarian Sonnet:
The Perfect Illustration: Snake Charmer 1907 – Henri Rousseau
Inspiration for this piece, one of my favorites:

“A snake came to my water-trough
On a hot, hot day, and I in pyjamas for the heat,
To drink there.”

Snake – D.H. Lawrence

A green ribbon sprawls along a stone trail;
a moss-like strand some human hand misplaced,
or a girl’s curls tossed loose a ponytail?
This trim makes ladies tremble with distaste:
The pretty strand is a garter, snake-faced!
It coils, unfurls a lunge, spits forth a fork,
withal recoils and slithers with slow haste –
(Shudders, oohs, aahs) – such mesmerizing torque.
A dinosaur’s remnant; a link to Ork;*
our Reptilian Brain, the oldest part,
where emotion fights reason for the cork;
the art is knowing when to heed the heart.
Skinny One, respect deflects foolish fear:
When we reflect we find a treasure here.



© Helga Ross 2004, 2006


*Ork – a fictional race of beings.

They are one of the most widespread races in the Warhammer 40, 000 galaxy. They are extremely warlike and the whole society is geared towards constant warfare. Orks live for battle and will fight with anything that gets in their way, even other Orks. This constant need to fight is the expression of Ork culture, a fact that keeps the Orks from forming anything but temporary alliances with each other. If the Orks were ever to unite under one banner they could quickly sweep aside all opposition in the Galaxy… Physiologically Orks are humanoid hulking brutes with huge slab-like muscles and are capable of ripping apart a human with their bare hands. They have tough thick green skin, which is highly resistant to pain. They can sustain the most horrific of injuries and stay in the fight… In combat they can transform even the most common object into a lethal killing instrument. Orks aren't the brightest creatures in the galaxy, but they do possess a certain low cunning…

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.