The Rime of the Ancient Philosopher

The ancient traveler, philosopher Plato
traveled many years to gain his wisdom,
values, way of thinking, knowledge, logic.
Stopping in Cairo, Judea, Roma—then
back to Athens, after many years.

With his broad shoulders, long beard
and impressive high brows,
he formed his Doctrine of Ideas.
He looked out upon the material world
‘What,’ he asked, ‘was the irreducible part of things?’

Many of his teachers were travels of wisdom,
profound: and sought (cleaver or not) sought,
by asking questions, of all things pertaining
to the mind and conduct…but noticed Socrates,
never answered in debate, just asked!

And so came law and politics, all sat
upon the judgment –seat, (next to kin, guests),
masters of thought, and Athenian democracy,
like Aristippus: thinkers and talkers. Thus,
dispute, deliberation came about, endlessly.

The sun was still upon the hill-tops, Plato
saw all, and all now, had eaten and drunk,
indulged in physical delights,-- as a servant
walked into the jailer’s room, carrying a cup
of poison for Socrates, for he would not bow.

With all this wisdom, at twenty-eight, Plato
stood passionate, nearby, watched the mob,
Socrates, former publil’s, mark his death to be.
Here was the wisest (thought Plato) and the best
of men; what then, would become of me?

So, perhaps he learned that to become a lover
of wisdom—and to share this wisdom, and choose
one God to ten— (as he had done) and to laugh
in his father’s face, plotted revolution, and disgrace
in the minds of others, hence, comes a tragic end:

that intelligence , did not always mean good,
or virtue did not always see afar in the distance,
but both had the potential to wait and criticize,
create shameful chaos, based on superstition.
That every man does not have an equal chance.

Yes, Plato would learned later, there is
disorder where there is no thought, and here
is where crowds decide in haste and ignorance,
without debate; simple reactions of the popular
party, the aristocratic gospel of the day.


#2167 1-21-2008