How many times has each of us, upon the meadow, eagerly sought after what we erred was best? How many times have we been conquered and seen the luxuries of the uncaring rulers, thinking — yes, that is a better life, I will take that? How many times have we nourished unjust actionsand cultivated resentment … Continue reading Plato, Republic, 617d-619b
Tag: poetry
Reclaiming the Self Unadorned; or, Fleeing Pandora’s Division
Inspired by Porphyry’s letter to his wife Marcella, stories of Pythagorean women, Plato’s Gorgias and Alcibiades, Olympiodorus' comment on gender equality in his Gorgias commentary at 18.9, the myth of Pandora, things that happen in meditation that are not wholly communicable, and thoughts I have while doing dishes on why I haven’t worn makeup since … Continue reading Reclaiming the Self Unadorned; or, Fleeing Pandora’s Division
Instructions for Beginning
Look for the moon to steady youin ler variability — new to full to darkwhere you find lim, pause – stop – stop Cup your hands to receive that lightsay a prayer if you know a Godbut if you don’t, the quiet is enough Be attentive to your body’s breathwhether the summer has made ithumid … Continue reading Instructions for Beginning
Cutting Through Untruths
A poem that pushes back against certain misconceptions despite Socrates saying in the Protagoras that poetry is Not the Best Venue For That.
Dionysiodotes
each press of char and bone against divine skin the pool of ash yet warm your hands seeking unity until they are caked in it gathering the remnants of body like single notes into harmonic one the light still shining down burning with the fire of spent worlds of planets singed by Titanic suns life destroyed, all destroyed save the heart unremitting you heal the melodies your lips … Continue reading Dionysiodotes
Candles
I: Taper this candlethe color of meadblooming with morning lightmellow-sweet fragrancecotton wick yet whiteits sooty blackness divinedlong before my lighterhums electricto offer oil to Hestiato tip frankincensedrop by drop for Zeusas the wick keepsthe beeswax tameits fuel bridledby tight weave II: Jarred a wood wickflat as a fingernailthe candle's flesh whitestudded with fragrancewhen I lit … Continue reading Candles
I Pulled the Prayers to All of the Gods Into eDevice Formats for Free, In Case You’re Interested
This short ebook (is it actually a zine? is that how those work?) contains the three prayers to all of the Hellenic Gods that I published on this site in January and February (a modified version of I, the compact II, and the very Platonizing III). The prayers draw a lot of inspiration from Plato … Continue reading I Pulled the Prayers to All of the Gods Into eDevice Formats for Free, In Case You’re Interested
Prayer to All of the Gods III
This is the last of the three prayers that I wanted to write in 2021 — hopefully, a decent enough go at it. It's the most Platonic of the three (but, let's be blunt, that's all of them), and it was a good exercise in hammering out where I solidly understand Proclus' Platonic Theology and … Continue reading Prayer to All of the Gods III
Prayer to All of the Gods II
I praise Hestia, ever-embering,whose hair hangs oil-heavy;Storeroom Zeus, Standing Zeus,swallower of all swollen with life;Agathodaimon, thoughtful guardianabundantly giving good wisdom;Celestial Gods celebrating the cosmosin endless feasting, in delightful flow;Gods of skies, of seas, of seasons;Gods of rivers, of rocky heights;Gods of deep murky dominions;Gods of meadows, of murmuring brooks;Gods of cities, of scent, of sapience;Gods … Continue reading Prayer to All of the Gods II
KALLISTI 