We are all leeches now, trying to work out what is walking towards us | Helen Sullivan

One sucker is precariously attached to some flimsy reality – a wet leaf, a slippery rock – the other one pointed at the future

Imagine if your Wikipedia page described you as a “segmented or parasitic worm” with “two head segments” and “suckers at both ends”. You might turn to the Bible, instead – here is the Book of Proverbs on leeches: “The horseleech hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.”

The daughters are the leech’s words (though some interpret the daughters as the suckers): “Give, give.” Within this damp, humid, leech-infested jungle is the surprisingly sweet idea of the words you say as daughters you have given birth to.

Topics

Sullivan: US is working with allies on mineral marketplace amid energy transition
Politics - The Hill - October 23
Can democracy work without journalism? With the US election upon us, we may be about to find out | Margaret Simons
World - The Guardian - 2 days ago
A red-lipped batfish: is there anything creepier? | Helen Sullivan
World - The Guardian - October 14
Our son lived in our basement ‘finding himself.’ We give him an allowance — and now he lives off gig work in a studio with his girlfriend. What can we do?
Business - MarketWatch - 17 hours ago
As Bills and Jets show Jerry Jones what ‘all in’ means, Cowboys owner grapples with team's uncertain outlook
Sports - Yahoo Sports - October 16
McConnell defends past Trump comments: ‘We are all on the same team now’
Politics - Politico - October 17
McConnell on his previous Trump comments: 'We are all on the same team now'
Politics - The Hill - October 17
8 Business Etiquette Rules We All Need Now
Business - Inc. - October 25

Latest in World

US election 2024 live updates: Harris ends campaign promising to ‘get to work’; Trump to address Michigan rally
World - The Guardian - 9 minutes ago
Puerto Rico holds general election that promises to be historic
World - ABC News - 14 minutes ago
Indonesia steps up trade protectionism with Apple and Google phone bans
World - Financial Times - 16 minutes ago
The 7 charts that define the 2024 US presidential campaign
World - Financial Times - 23 minutes ago
Live results map: US presidential election 2024
World - Financial Times - 23 minutes ago

We are all leeches now, trying to work out what is walking towards us | Helen Sullivan

Topics

Related

Sullivan: US is working with allies on mineral marketplace amid energy transition

Can democracy work without journalism? With the US election upon us, we may be about to find out | Margaret Simons

A red-lipped batfish: is there anything creepier? | Helen Sullivan

Our son lived in our basement ‘finding himself.’ We give him an allowance — and now he lives off gig work in a studio with his girlfriend. What can we do?

As Bills and Jets show Jerry Jones what ‘all in’ means, Cowboys owner grapples with team's uncertain outlook

McConnell defends past Trump comments: ‘We are all on the same team now’

McConnell on his previous Trump comments: 'We are all on the same team now'

8 Business Etiquette Rules We All Need Now

More from The Guardian

US election 2024 live updates: Harris ends campaign promising to ‘get to work’; Trump to address Michigan rally

Polls on US House and Senate races paint a worrying picture for Democrats

Trump’s lead over Harris in betting market erodes as platforms tighten odds

When do polls close on election day, Tuesday, 5 November 2024?

Reformist clerics imply Iran should back two-state solution for Israel and Palestine

Latest in World

US election 2024 live updates: Harris ends campaign promising to ‘get to work’; Trump to address Michigan rally

Puerto Rico holds general election that promises to be historic

Indonesia steps up trade protectionism with Apple and Google phone bans

The 7 charts that define the 2024 US presidential campaign

Live results map: US presidential election 2024