Stones

[beaufort]

I like this (have enjoyed all your recent posts), have made a few comments below.


He needs to disassociate. I read "disassociate" as "dissociate" in the psychiatric sense of unconscious separation of cognition from affect or feeling. Or do you mean he has to disassociate physically/emotionally from his soon-to-be killed wife? Or perhaps both.[b]
His claim is that she has
committed adultery.
Before the pit is dug,
stones are gathered.
They are not meant to kill. I like the implication that stones are not by nature dangerous

Who will cast the first stone,
the father or the brother?
Chosen to take her place,
the young girl is forced to watch,
life’s lessons must be taught. this gave me chills, thinking of what these young girls are witness to and how early they are forced to marry

When they close their eyes
Will the gritty taste of dirt
fill their mouth?
Lying in the dark, will they wonder
whose stone delivered the fatal blow?

In those countries where this is a culturally sanctioned response to alleged adultery, it is interesting to consider whether the men would feel guilt (pride? moral righteousness?) or just view the stoning in a matter-of-fact way. I think it is a powerful and thought-provoking image. Thanks.