by phillipw | Mar 17, 2020 | AE, BE, PO
An Absolute Poem “Its evocation will not be toward decoration or amusement, but rather toward a state of consciousness, an ‘innocence’ (Blake) or absolute beauty.” ~ Hart Crane, “Aims and Purposes” We dream of promenading streets of gold, A gold so perfect...
by phillipw | Mar 17, 2020 | DO, TR
Trump as Stupid Indignant Funny Donald Fuck I’m glad that we’ve elected Donald Trump Apprentice president. We tune in, watch His many failures, sneering at the chump. Now almost every day he makes a splotch On decency. A rump of voters hired The clown and now no...
by phillipw | Mar 17, 2020 | AE, BE, ES, PO
Glory, not the Mundane Why let the facts invade the realm of beauty? The truth is not the point, or rather Truth Is sovereign. It is the poet’s duty To cut through ugliness to regal youth And highest glories, not to serve glib facts. The loveliness of lively...
by phillipw | Mar 17, 2020 | AL, PH
Potidaea and Delium There was a time philosophers and those They taught were men on battlegrounds. They fought Together, side by side. There was no pose (About butch fortitude) in fancy thought— They did it sword and shield and spear and brawn. And if they...
by phillipw | Mar 16, 2020 | AL
Self-knowledge, Selfish Knowledge “Socrates was once asked why it was that Alcibiades, who was so brilliant, beautiful, rich, and high in society was so unhappy. Socrates answered, ‘Because wherever Alcibiades goes, Alcibiades is there.’” This Alcibiades could cry...