Diogenes:

Diogenes:

“Where is the one I seek,

that truly honest man-

are you all of a race  

with choices misplaced?

Awaken fellow citizens, 

arise from your sleep-

dawn breaks I’m at it again,

your Madman, out of his keep

holding aloft, I walk the streets,

a revealing fire filled jar

to boldly question the passing face

of every citizen I meet.

With a calm virtuous life 

the Great Conqueror I swayed 

to yield authority and step aside 

standing out of my light. 

Obviously I’m no fool insane

to value inner contentment                

and self sufficient views

against desires you pursue

of outward validation

motivated ambition, 

material gratification,

and social convention.

Heed well my advice

of minimalist preferred life

and judge not as unwanted

hype or presumed strife.

You are not a thinking man

If you only follow a worn path

laid before you on the earth

by an unsuspecting herd.

Under constant social pressure

you walk a subjective track

submitting the will to others

is no choice of a free man.

A cynic you have labeled me  

and now crowned with cynicism 

I say men must walk honestly 

and therefore I search for thee.

Reviews

[Lorry]

Wouldn't it be nice if people had thoughts without influence, but kept those thoughts to themselves?
No influencers, whatever they are or fake news or opinion being passed off as fact and a much quieter path we would all be on.
I think we may very well get rid of a couple of default sentences from our lexicon forever... "what do you mean" and "Well I just think..." could vanish into the great ether of pointlessness and free up some much needed thinking time from chat time.
But seriously, what is a social media influencer and why does everyone want to be one?
I could always google it but I'm scared it will throw up a video of an annoyingly loud and tanned person with teeth so white a compulsion to punch them will take over and would broken teeth influence them much to shut up and keep their opinion to themselves? 😃

[DIVYA]

Dear Carl,
I pictured a fanatical face, in a bygone era, holding a lamp to his face, shaking every passer by to wake up, open their eyes and see the world as it really is - superficial and material.
I think this poem would apply beautifully to our present times of the rat race, materialism and the aspirational values society imposes on us. How wise those men of antiquity were...
I loved this very thoughtful poem.

[Soren]

Loved this one Carl The man that told Alexander to stand out of his light and of whom later Alexander said to his men If I were not Alexander I would be Diogenes. The man that told his followers to throw his body over the wall for the wild animals, stating that if he was not aware their bites could not hurt him. An aesthetic and minimalist advocating a return to nature. My heart is with him and his rejection of social conventions. As for finding that honest man I think he is still looking. Great work Carl very nicely done in most poetic style

[carl]

thank you for your read and review and kind words - I found studying the man quite interesting and surprising seeing that I flunked the same ethics class taught by the same professor twice in college - be well and be safe -carl

[Soren]

I taught an ethics class for a couple of years to Airforce officers and found it ironic teaching ethics to the military. Never the less ethics is a strange subject in that it is man invented and culturally bound changing with time. What was right yesterday may not be today. You are most welcome Carl and thank you for a most interesting read.

[Brad Dehler]

What a search it is! Thank you for this one. It is not easy to find the (Few, any?) ones walking honestly. The ones that will tell you true and carry with them -good will. I like the rhythm of your writing. I was imagining someone on a quest in medieval times, not exactly sure why. Perhaps without the modernism, there is a more raw and honest feel to this quest. I suspect the long walk continues...

[carl]

much appreciate your time to read and review it is encouraging - carl

[Brad Dehler]

Yes! Keep up the good work :)