by phillipw | Apr 8, 2020 | BE, LO
The Venerable, Ancient Need “And Socrates the philosopher, who despised everything, was, for all that, subdued by the beauty of Alcibiades; as also was the venerable Aristotle by the beauty of his pupil Phaselites.” ~ Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae, XIII, 906 The never...
by phillipw | Apr 8, 2020 | GR, PO
Primal ………. “As early as 500 BC, if we credit the images on Greek pottery, Homer and other poets were being read, not merely performed, by individuals.” ~ Michael Schmidt, The First Poets,7 When poetry existed in the mind And air and...
by phillipw | Apr 8, 2020 | PA
~ Francisco Bayeu, Wikipedia Goya, Wikipedia ~ Goya, Saturn Devouring his Son, Wikipedia The Best of Spanish Painters The best of Spanish painters in his time (According to his peers), his status grew Until he held the highest posts, the prime Positions. This was...
by phillipw | Apr 8, 2020 | FR, GR, HE
Qumran Caves versus the Academy, Character by Character “Greek scribes could be inaccurate, unlike the meticulous transcribers of Hebrew scripture whose work was judged, character by character, by God himself.” ~ Michael Schmidt, The First Poets The...
by phillipw | Apr 8, 2020 | PI
The Modern Art Market Grotesquely Distorted: “Seated Woman in Blue Dress” Sells for $45 Million If I were burdened with a lover who Looked crooked like this woman (woman?), I Would go as twisted as Picasso. Blue Lips, though, are what I’d paint to help me fly Away...
by phillipw | Apr 7, 2020 | BA
Coherent “Anacreon[2] (a native of Teos in Asia Minor) sings that his barbitos only gives out erotic tones.[1] ” Wikipedia, “Barbiton” ………. More delicate, pastel in sound than lyres, The barbitos was songstress Sappho’s harp And...
by phillipw | Apr 7, 2020 | AN
I Have Looked upon the Face of Jolliness The ancient Greeks in poetry were lewd As limericks, playful, silly as a stand Up joker on a comic’s platform, rude And crude, yep, far more rude than Russell Brand. Emitted from these ancient rhythmic throats Were poems...
by phillipw | Apr 7, 2020 | AS
Ashokan Dominance An emperor becomes a convert to Ascetic truth, a truth that speaks decrees Against the slaughter of poor beasts, yes, true To mercy. Soon the ruler starts to seize Adherents in his regal grasp, the nuns And monks in their humility and calm,...