This piece! This tale literally changed my life 25+years ago. Seriously changed all my internal processes of who I am - who I was. I used to carry extra keys with me. When engaging with a stranger and it fit the conversation I told the story and gave them a key. I am beyond grateful to see this here! Thank you for sharing it.
The last sentence nails it. Almost aphoristic.
Beards are the mark of the goat, and given the goat's lustful
and diabolical character, its kinship with satyrs and other classical
embodiments of lubriciousness, like the god Pan, beards define
the male in a priapic mode. Bluebeard is Jack the Ripper in priapic mode.
This piece! This tale literally changed my life 25+years ago. Seriously changed all my internal processes of who I am - who I was. I used to carry extra keys with me. When engaging with a stranger and it fit the conversation I told the story and gave them a key. I am beyond grateful to see this here! Thank you for sharing it.
Great story, Pat. I always find myself going back to the fairy tales in my hopeless attempts to understand the human condition.