by Svetlana Goryacheva
Member since:
June 4, 2006

SOCRATES (A Miniature – Poem in prose)

December 10, 2008 06:07 PM EST (Updated: December 11, 2008 11:45 AM EST)
views: 190 | comments: 39

 

"...O, noble Athenians!

I just hadn't got enough impudence

To tell you the things you wanted

To hear from me, that's all.

 

O, credulous Athenians!

How soon you would regret

That the barefoot with big belly.

Never stirs your markets with chat.

 

O, grateful Athenians!

You would mourn me day after day,

Closing your schools and palaestras,

Sitting dully at funeral feasts.

 

O, kind-hearted Athenians!

You would banish my main accusers,

Depriving them of fire and water,

Leaving them to shameful death...

 

For the twenty-five centuries

That lay between us like a chasm,

Only one great discovery

Has been finally made by you:

 

That little daemon who told me

Which actions were worthy of praise,

And which should be avoided,

Was called by you - Conscience.

 

So why you're still not happy -

Why you're not living according to Conscience?... "

 

 

Svetlana Goryacheva

 

December 11, 2008

 

 

 

 
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Comments: 39

John Doyle Dec 10, 2008, 6:23pm EST
Very Very Good
Alla G. Dec 10, 2008, 6:32pm EST
I want to know, if you realize that you are incredibly talented.
Barbra L. Dec 10, 2008, 7:05pm EST
Socratic irony?

This is just fabulous, Sveta! I love the manner in which you've addressed the matter of Conscience.

Especially love these lines: That the barefoot with big belly./Never stirs your markets with chat.
Barbra L. Dec 10, 2008, 7:09pm EST
"You were born to write, my dear!!!
Sandi S. Dec 10, 2008, 7:33pm EST
Intriguing... you stir the soul.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Dec 10, 2008, 8:33pm EST
Svetlana - What I always have to remind myself of is that English is not your first language. That, in of itself, is admirable. But you go much further than that. You always choose interesting topics.

Well-penned!
Sharon K. Dec 10, 2008, 8:46pm EST
Svetlana, very well written, thanks for sharing...
Kushal Poddar Dec 10, 2008, 9:44pm EST
THe poem travels through times and bring back some treasure back.

Traveler from
Jean, just the teensiest bit odd, F. Dec 10, 2008, 9:54pm EST
Society has always feared those who "march to a different drummer" -- especially when they are brilliant... Paranoia is a horribly destructive self-illusion... HORRIBLY destructive...
Chris Brockman Dec 10, 2008, 10:36pm EST
With good Socratic method, you've put the answer into the question.
Alison H. Dec 11, 2008, 12:00am EST
Nicely done!
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 11, 2008, 2:53am EST
My dearest ones - thank you all so very much for appreciating this little tribute to one of my most favorite philosophers! :-) I feel myself so humbled and honored by your most kind and generous comments.

Blessings and best wishes in great abundance - S.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 11, 2008, 2:54am EST
"I decided that it was not wisdom that enabled poets to write their poetry, but a kind of instinct or inspiration, such as you find in seers and prophets who deliver all their sublime messages without knowing in the least what they mean."

Socrates. ;-)
JOHN BECK Dec 11, 2008, 6:56am EST
Socrates would be proud!
JOHN BECK Dec 11, 2008, 6:59am EST
Noble, grateful, credulous, kind-hearted--In addressing thus, it puts the question into perspective.
Fred Hose Dec 11, 2008, 7:28am EST
Ah Sveta dear
A wonderful evocative poem and a comment from you that is. if anything, the most most incisively wise thing that I've read in along time.
It's so strange for me to read what you wrote because I've just written an article on exactly what you said in your comment.
Amazing. Well done. Love Fred
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 11, 2008, 7:50am EST
John, Fred - thank you wholeheartedly, my dearest friends! ;-) So very kind and generous of you!

Hugs and blessings - S.
Ann M. (Site Scryer) Dec 11, 2008, 10:52am EST
Socrates deserves as much praise as we can give him. I'm puzzled about your last two lines, though. As you referring to his death/sucide?
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 11, 2008, 11:00am EST
Dear Ann - in these two last lines, Socrates (who, as we all know, was condemned to death by the Athenian Areopagus and, refusing to become a fugitive, took poison) continues to address to his fellow citizens and (through them) to all the consequent generations. These are supposedly his words referring to our human condition in general.

Blessings and best wishes in a plenty - S.
Ann M. (Site Scryer) Dec 11, 2008, 11:34am EST
Thank you, Svetlana. I wonder if quotes would help to emphasize this?
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 11, 2008, 11:44am EST
Well, dear Ann... this is quite an idea! Thank you! :-)

Blessings and best wishes - S.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 11, 2008, 3:39pm EST
Thank you so very much, Selene, dear! ;-)

Love and hugs - S.
William Dotani Dec 11, 2008, 3:45pm EST
Hedonism, greed and lust and maybe a few other vices thrown in just for good measure. I like the nice subtle comedy or personal smile as your verse leads us down a rational highway. The ending is Pathos for those not having self realism or comedy is stating the obvious. Maybe you don't understand me saying comedy, but for Lenny Bruce anything could be. Enjoyed reading and thinking along with your verse. Yes, sometimes I don't think. I can't help it! I'm a man.
William Dotani Dec 11, 2008, 3:48pm EST
Just finished my Yoga breathing exercise. With large white beard people might think I'm a Ninja Santa. If so, I need a theme song.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 11, 2008, 4:12pm EST
Thank you, my dearest ones! ;-) I wrote this one on a single breath, watching a very good Russian movie on Socrates (a screen version of a play called "The Barefoot from Athens") and listening to the excellent music by Shandor Kallosh. So Bill's observation regarding "subtle comedy" actually wasn't so far from truth... :-)

Hugs and blessings in a plenty - S.
vijay kumar Dec 12, 2008, 11:42am EST
Superb poem on conscience. A great question raised, relevant and revealing.
Wilhelmine Estabrook Dec 12, 2008, 12:07pm EST
Truly well done. Such a range and variety in your poems. I would never have thought of writing about Socrates.
Quinn (aka Entwife) Blackburn Dec 12, 2008, 5:03pm EST
Wonderful!
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 12, 2008, 5:05pm EST
Thank you so much, dear Quinn! ;-)

Hugs and blessings - S.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 12, 2008, 5:06pm EST
I'm so honored, dear Vijay! Thank you! ;-)

Blessings and best wishes - S.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 12, 2008, 5:07pm EST
My deepest and warmest gratitude to you, dear Wilhelmine... as always, your most kind words inspire me to write more and more! ;-)

Hugs and blessings - S.
Samantha G. Dec 12, 2008, 6:59pm EST
INCREDIBLE Svetlana! It reminds me of Plato's Apology written about Socrates ad his trial and accusers? It is gorgeous. Part of it was read at my father's funeral. The part that has the line, "I to die and you to live...". It is an amazing piece of work. All the great Greek philosophers have much to teach us if we will just simply listen. SG
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 13, 2008, 1:02am EST
Thank you so very much, Samantha, dear... indeed, all that we need is just listen.

Blessings and best wishes in a plenty - S.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 15, 2008, 5:53am EST
????????? ???? (Thank you in Greek). ;-)

Blessings and best wishes - S.
Barbra L. Dec 15, 2008, 10:14am EST
This is FEATURED @ Vijay Kumar's group: Light of Poetry

Superb choice! It looks wonderful there!!! ;-)
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 15, 2008, 11:14am EST
Oh-h-h... thank you, dear Vijay, Barb... I'm so happy and honored! ;-)

Blessings and best wishes - S.
Sujata (funnily 'Suji' ) S. Mar 11, 2009, 1:36pm EDT
Very impressive and exquisite write on great one dear Sveta!!!
Sharon P. Jul 24, 2009, 2:01pm EDT
Great question.

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