Night of the Scorpion

I remember the night my mother
was stung by a scorpion. Ten hours
of steady rain had driven him
to crawl beneath a sack of rice.

Parting with his poison – flash
of diabolic tail in the dark room –
he risked the rain again.

The peasants came like swarms of flies
and buzzed the name of God a hundred times
to paralyse the Evil One.

With candles and with lanterns
throwing giant scorpion shadows
on the mud-baked walls
they searched for him: he was not found.
They clicked their tongues.
With every movement that the scorpion made his poison moved in Mother’s blood, they said.

May he sit still, they said
May the sins of your previous birth
be burned away tonight, they said.
May your suffering decrease
the misfortunes of your next birth, they said.
May the sum of all evil
balanced in this unreal world

against the sum of good
become diminished by your pain.
May the poison purify your flesh

of desire, and your spirit of ambition,
they said, and they sat around
on the floor with my mother in the centre,
the peace of understanding on each face.
More candles, more lanterns, more neighbours,
more insects, and the endless rain.
My mother twisted through and through,
groaning on a mat.
My father, sceptic, rationalist,
trying every curse and blessing,
powder, mixture, herb and hybrid.
He even poured a little paraffin
upon the bitten toe and put a match to it.
I watched the flame feeding on my mother.
I watched the holy man perform his rites to tame the poison with an incantation.
After twenty hours
it lost its sting.

My mother only said
Thank God the scorpion picked on me
And spared my children.

“I remember the night my mother”

The opening line establishes a reflective tone, hinting at a personal and vivid recollection. The use of the first person creates an immediate connection between the speaker and the audience.

“was stung by a scorpion. Ten hours”

The direct and succinct narration introduces the central event – the scorpion sting. The mention of the specific time duration, “ten hours,” emphasizes the prolonged and agonizing nature of the incident.

“of steady rain had driven him”

The rain sets the atmospheric backdrop for the story, creating a sense of discomfort and confinement. The anthropomorphic language, referring to the scorpion as “him,” adds a subtle layer of personification.

“to crawl beneath a sack of rice.”

The scorpion’s choice of shelter, beneath a sack of rice, illustrates its elusive and hidden nature. The mundane setting contrasts with the impending drama, emphasizing the unpredictability of life.

“Parting with his poison – flash”

The imagery of the scorpion parting with its poison is vivid, and the use of a hyphen suggests a sudden and impactful event. The word “flash” intensifies the dramatic nature of the scorpion’s action.

“of diabolic tail in the dark room -“

The description of the scorpion’s tail as “diabolic” imbues a sense of malevolence. The dark room adds an element of mystery and fear, heightening the tension in the narrative.

“he risked the rain again.”

The scorpion’s decision to face the rain again implies a relentless determination or perhaps a calculated escape. This action adds an intriguing layer to the creature’s behavior.

“The peasants came like swarms of flies”

The simile comparing the arrival of peasants to swarms of flies conveys the urgency and collective response to a crisis. It also hints at the vulnerability of the villagers to natural threats.

“and buzzed the name of God a hundred times”

The repetition of the name of God symbolizes a collective plea for divine intervention. The buzzing, reminiscent of insects, highlights the chaotic and fervent atmosphere.

“to paralyse the Evil One.”

The use of religious language and the concept of paralyzing the Evil One suggests a communal belief in the power of prayer to combat malevolent forces. The language device here is religious symbolism.

“With candles and with lanterns”

The introduction of candles and lanterns signals the villagers’ proactive search for the scorpion. The imagery of light against the darkness symbolizes the collective effort to dispel fear and uncertainty.

“throwing giant scorpion shadows”

The shadows cast by the candles and lanterns create a visual spectacle, and the word “giant” emphasizes the exaggerated, looming threat of the scorpion in their minds.

“on the mud-baked walls they searched for him:”

The mud-baked walls evoke a rustic setting, and the search for the scorpion reflects the villagers’ determination. The repetition of the pronoun “him” emphasizes the creature’s malevolent identity.

“he was not found. They clicked their tongues.”

The scorpion’s elusiveness adds a layer of suspense, and the villagers’ disappointed clicking of tongues suggests a mix of frustration and resignation. The language device here is onomatopoeia.

“With every movement that the scorpion made”

The connection between the scorpion’s movements and the spread of poison in the mother’s blood creates a cause-and-effect relationship, intensifying the perceived threat.

“his poison moved in Mother’s blood, they said.”

The villagers’ commentary on the movement of the poison introduces a communal narrative, reflecting the collective consciousness of the community. The language device here is direct speech.

“May he sit still, they said”

The plea for the scorpion to remain still reflects a desperate hope for the cessation of harm. The language device here is prayerful rhetoric, emphasizing the villagers’ wish for stability.

“May the sins of your previous birth”

The reference to sins and rebirth introduces religious and karmic themes, adding a cultural layer to the narrative. The language device here is religious symbolism and cultural allusion.

“be burned away tonight, they said.”

The metaphor of burning away sins through suffering conveys a belief in purification and redemption. The language device here is metaphorical language, emphasizing the transformative power of pain.

“May your suffering decrease”

The wish for reduced suffering suggests empathy and communal solidarity. It also reflects the cultural belief that shared suffering diminishes individual burdens.

“the misfortunes of your next birth, they said.”

The reference to misfortunes in the next birth alludes to the cyclical nature of life and rebirth in certain religious beliefs. This adds a philosophical layer to the villagers’ expressions.

“May the sum of all evil”

The collective wish to diminish the sum of all evil introduces a universal theme of human struggle against malevolence. The language device here is metaphorical language, representing abstract concepts.

“balanced in this unreal world”

The term “unreal world” suggests a philosophical perspective on the transient and illusory nature of worldly existence. The language device here is metaphorical language and philosophical allusion.

“against the sum of good”

The juxtaposition of evil and good highlights the eternal struggle between opposing forces. The language device here is antithesis, emphasizing the perpetual conflict between moral forces.

“become diminished by your pain.”

The wish for the diminishment of evil through personal suffering underscores the theme of sacrifice and the redemptive power of pain. The language device here is metaphorical language, emphasizing the transformative nature of suffering.

“May the poison purify your flesh”

The metaphor of poison as a purifying agent challenges conventional notions, suggesting a paradoxical relationship between suffering and purification. The language device here is metaphorical language, creating an ironic twist.

“of desire, and your spirit of ambition,”

The desire and ambition mentioned here represent worldly attachments. The wish for purification from these attachments reflects spiritual aspirations. The language device here is metaphorical language, emphasizing the spiritual cleansing sought.

“they said, and they sat around”

The repetition of “they said” reinforces the communal nature of the wishes and prayers. The act of sitting around the mother creates a visual image of collective support. The language device here is repetition, emphasizing communal expression.

“on the floor with my mother in the centre,”

The positioning of the mother in the center symbolizes her pivotal role in the communal ritual. The floor setting conveys a sense of humility and shared humanity. The language device here is symbolic positioning.

“the peace of understanding on each face.”

The peace on the faces of the villagers suggests a shared understanding and acceptance of the situation. This moment of communal tranquility contrasts with the preceding chaos. The language device here is symbolism, representing a shared emotional state.

“More candles, more lanterns, more neighbours,”

The repetition of “more” emphasizes the escalating communal effort, underscoring the urgency and intensity of the situation. The language device here is repetition, emphasizing the increasing communal involvement.

“more insects, and the endless rain.”

The mention of insects and endless rain intensifies the sensory experience, reinforcing the chaotic and uncontrollable nature of the night. The language device here is imagery, creating a vivid and immersive atmosphere.

“My mother twisted through and through,”

The physical distress of the mother is vividly described, portraying her agony. The repetition of “through and through” emphasizes the severity of her suffering. The language device here is repetition, emphasizing the extent of the mother’s pain.

“groaning on a mat.”

The simplicity of the mat contrasts with the complexity of the emotions and rituals taking place. The mother’s groaning adds an auditory element, intensifying the emotional impact. The language device here is auditory imagery.

“My father, sceptic, rationalist,”

The introduction of the father as a sceptic and rationalist sets up a contrast with the communal beliefs and rituals. This contrast adds an element of skepticism and rational inquiry to the narrative. The language device here is characterization, highlighting the father’s perspective.

“trying every curse and blessing,”

The father’s attempt to use both curses and blessings reflects a desperate search for a solution, showcasing the human inclination to exhaust all possibilities in times of crisis. The language device here is characterization, highlighting the father’s actions.

“powder, mixture, herb and hybrid.”

The list of remedies, including both traditional and perhaps experimental methods, underscores the diversity of attempts to counter the scorpion’s venom. The language device here is enumeration, highlighting a variety of approaches.

“He even poured a little paraffin”

The use of paraffin as a remedy adds a modern and unconventional element to the father’s attempts. This action reflects a blend of traditional and contemporary approaches to problem-solving. The language device here is characterization and juxtaposition.

“upon the bitten toe and put a match to it.”

The dramatic act of using fire to counter the poison adds a visceral and intense element to the father’s efforts. It showcases the desperation and creativity in the face of adversity. The language device here is dramatic imagery.

“I watched the flame feeding on my mother.”

The chilling image of the flame feeding on the mother’s toe creates a sense of horror and helplessness. The juxtaposition of fire and the maternal figure intensifies the emotional impact. The language device here is vivid imagery, creating a poignant visual.

“I watched the holy man perform his rites”

The introduction of a holy man brings a religious and spiritual dimension to the narrative. His rites signify a formal attempt to counter the effects of the scorpion’s venom. The language device here is characterization, introducing a figure of religious authority.

“to tame the poison with an incantation.”

The attempt to “tame” the poison through an incantation reflects a belief in the power of words and rituals. The language device here is symbolism, representing the symbolic control over the venom.

“After twenty hours it lost its sting.”

The resolution of the crisis after twenty hours introduces a temporal element, emphasizing the endurance and passage of time. The language device here is metaphor, attributing a characteristic of an animal (sting) to a situation.

“My mother only said Thank God”

The mother’s response, expressing gratitude, reflects a sense of relief and perhaps a belief in divine intervention. The language device here is direct speech, providing insight into the mother’s emotional state.

“the scorpion picked on me And spared my children.”

The mother’s perspective reveals a selfless attitude, finding solace in the fact that her children were spared. This emphasizes the sacrificial nature of her suffering. The language device here is direct speech, conveying the mother’s thoughts.

In conclusion, Nissim Ezekiel’s “Night of the Scorpion” weaves a narrative of a scorpion sting and the communal efforts to counter its effects. The use of vivid imagery, natural metaphors, religious and cultural references, as well as a blend of skepticism and belief, creates a rich tapestry of human experience. The poem navigates themes of suffering, communal unity, and the complexities of human response to adversity, offering readers a profound exploration of the night that left an indelible mark on the speaker’s memory.