Against Melancholy, Olympoly

 

The other day an unusual word occurred to me. Language is like that, it gives birth to words to encompass the new or the old that needed to be said, or said better, or said in less space. For the dream of every expression is to be summarized in a word, like an alphabet that "grows" until it becomes an ideogram. It's in its nature, like a snake shedding its skin.

In the case we are discussing, it would be a word to counteract melancholy. After all, what word counteracts melancholy, melancholic prostration, in our language? Euphoria? No, leave euphoria there, disheveled and having fun with friends. Melancholy is deeper and more resilient, it needs a counterpart to its mold. And here is Olympoly. Yes, from Olympus, that Greek mountain, supposed abode of bad gods (too human). But the sense of solarity that the term Olympus, Olympian, and its derivative variants like Olympic bring, is unavoidable. Thus, Olympoly would be that feeling of non-sentimental, non-toxic positivity (we recently discovered: there is toxicity in excessive foolishness, in pampered kindness disguised as vulnerability). Olympoly is not joy, which is even purer, more atavistic, but burdened with frailties. It is a virtue to be consciously maintained, sustained, an ethos that can be exercised.

Let's be crystal clear: Olympoly is an optimism stripped of frills (oops, a term almost proscribed around here).

A stoicism that smiles. Yes, because it is less resigned, a less serious point.

A dysphoric euphoria.

Nietzsche, mad or before going mad, spoke of the will to power. Olimpoly would be an exercise of power, and its contrite, yet firm celebration.

The skater who loses the gold, but smiles happily, even exults (exults: precisely here lies the Olimpoly), at the success of her opponent/colleague. Young, but mistress of herself, of what is greater, full of/in the most important things. Defeated, but mistress of another victory, diffused in its vastness.

As a poet, I have always believed that there are words hidden within the light: Olimpoly is one of those we need. Welcome.

Sammis Reachers