Post-meaningism in Seventeenth-century Japan, Never Mind the Pythia

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem

“Do not follow in the footsteps of the Ancients; seek what they sought.” ~ Bashô

If no one follows Jesus, Buddha or

Mohammed, never mind Confucius, gods

Of India, ad nauseum, the ore

In mines of priests; if no one, seeking, plods

The roads of reverend rituals and scrolls

Of paper made of rice or parchment, then

What happens?  What about our souls?

It happens that those thinkers all were men.

They rather point the path, and women too

Have seen the truth that most of us have missed.

These seers, all, struck out alone to view

The super real that priestesses once hissed.

  Post-modernism is a bit too old.

    Step out with wondering eyes and throats.  Be bold.

     Right as Gain

Or maybe you should follow them, each one

A little sun or like a smaller map

Of light, each on a partial sun

That each may offer you, a crucial scrap

Digestible inside your soul or mind.

Yet they are all great women or great men.

You after all are like them and not blind,

So use your eyes as they did.  Look, and when

You see enough to know more truth, then check

Your truth against the prophets.  If they saw

It better, bend your thinking.  Countercheck

Against each wisdom, truthing out each flaw.

  These seers and philosphers send light.

    Read life and them — and turn your page to right.

© Phillip Whidden