Hypatia's Agora

I wrote this after watching the 2009 movie "Agora"

Hypatia's Agora

In the market place, they meet.

Thoughts of opposites

Feelings of love and of hate

Senses of pleasure and of pain

They exchange energies.

All striving one with the other

Chaos is seen from this place.

No one will ever be the Victor.

They all shall be defeated and have blood upon them.

Is there a reason or any rhythm?

Does a purpose show itself above the froth?

I fear nothing will come of this exchange.

All will lose, and none will gain.

Faith will continue its endless journey.

Doubt will engulf both the light and the dark.

None will understand the other.

All shall perish with their own beliefs.

Knowledge will be lost with great sorrows.

Reality must always elude their grasps.

Author's Note

I realized that few would have seen the film and decided I had to change the title. I wanted readers to know that this piece is about Hypatia of Alexandria. She was a mathematician, philosopher and astronomer and I wanted this to be a tribute to her.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

hate grows violence that is senseless, and everyone loses in the end...

normal life goes on, we try not to fear...but we know anytime, anyplace....all of a sudden, shots will ring out or explosions will ring across a noxious sky---and people will die...and the world finds itself once again immersed in sorrow.

j.

[H.L. Cerveise]

Thank you for your review. I am glad to see readers are getting the intent of this writing.

[Emily]

Lovely poem!
I really like it!!

[H.L. Cerveise]

Thank you for reading and reviewing my poem.

[iamshadowine]

wonderful write!
keep writing :)

[H.L. Cerveise]

Thank you for reading my poem.

[Coyote Poetry]

A amazing poem my friend.
"Chaos is seen from this place.
No one will ever be the Victor.
They all shall be defeated and have blood upon them.
Is there a reason or any rhythm?
Does a purpose show itself above the froth?"
I liked the above lines. Left the reader with a lot to ponder. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[H.L. Cerveise]

Thank you so much for reading it Coyote. I love it when certain lines really leave an effect on the reader.

[Coyote Poetry]

It did and you are welcome.

[Monica Chen]

After reading this I actually googled Hypatia of Alexandria and read about how she was gruesomely murdered by a mob because of a mere association to a controversial figure. It's kind of sad how the masses are easily incited to commit atrocious acts because bloodshed only ever becomes a never-ending cycle.

[H.L. Cerveise]

I am glad you found more information out about Hypatia. I so agree with what you are saying. This writing made me feel like I was feeling her despair as she went through her death.

[Zaliodir]

As usual, very nicely done. Although I must say, fear is the opposite of faith, and hope is only lost when people feel as if their existence is meaningless, or in other words, when they lose faith and only fear. Love it, love it, love it. =)

[H.L. Cerveise]

Thank you Wayland for reading this poem. I so agree with you personally in what you are saying about faith and fear. Very little of my own beliefs and feelings are in this writing. I have a tendency of sometimes getting deep into the character I am writing about. Hypatia was a philosopher, and I was sensing that part of her and how she must have felt at the end of her live.

[manisha]

I agree with barelygirl. No one will ever be victor i liked that line.

[H.L. Cerveise]

Thank you for reading and reviewing my writing. As I said in my notes among other things, she was a philosopher, so I wrote this from the aspect. A philosopher should look at things with less emotion and more with logical thoughts and observation.

I am glad you liked it and like that line also because in situations like this no one wins and a lose.

[barleygirl]

Even before glancing at the review below, I was thinking this poem describes today's world which feels like it's spinning out of control with all the anger & violence & hopelessness. I recognize the scenario being painted with words, but language choices can be a little stilted in places. It reads as if describing a Shakespearean tragedy, somewhat devoid of intense feelings & graphic detailed glimpses deep within. It seems to create a bit of "distance" by stating observations in a more formal style.

[H.L. Cerveise]

I agree with your, "It seems to create a bit of "distance...in a more formal style." I also agree with your, "It reads as if describing a Shakespearean tragedy." This is what I was trying to do. A lot of my poetry tries to talk to the heart and soul; this one was aimed at the mind and the soul. I tried to show even without the heart involved what a "tragedy" this was and we as humans seem to find ourselves in a cycle of mind and soul failures since the beginning of mankind.

[Diamond]

Well, I think this is the condition in which the world is. But no fear, Reality, I term it as truth is too subtle to be held in anyone's grasps.

[H.L. Cerveise]

Thank you for reviewing my writing. Truth is an elusive thought that is hard to find I agree.

[Diamond]

Well, I think this is the condition in which the world is. But no fear, Reality, I term it as truth is too subtle to be held in anyone's grasps. I felt your pain. 4th stanza, 2nd line. Is it "perish"?

[H.L. Cerveise]

Oh, you are so right. Thank you for seeing that and telling me. It is corrected now.