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John Rockie Coppolella

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Plato's Shadow
by John Rockie Coppolella → (All Poetry by John Rockie Coppolella)
   Rated "G" by the Author.
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Plato's shadow, like that of an ancient juniper tree, falls across our history and our society, obscuring for some, but offering relief and shelter for others, of the intense blaze of wisdom's light. What have we learned since Plato first taught us? What schools of thought have freed us or enslaved us as fools since then?


Poem Artwork

 

 
 
THE WITCH OF TIME UNLOCKS AND OPENS THE GOLDEN CASKET
Leaping up from its cave; Plato's shadow groans  
Holding Pericles's shield it watches in amazement,  
As Dickens's urchins sup on the wise man's bones. 
   
Plato, – why did your mighty mind put Athens in a rage?  
You were a mathematician, philosopher visionarey...
Socrates died, leaving your intellect to tower over all...  
Every city-state's ideals since then bear your visage. 
 
Plato, your children frenetically attend the crops,
Caring for a harvest of good virtues to make daily bread.  
Weeds of vice grow in unattended mental plots,  
Sickles prune entangled vines of ignorance in your stead...
 
Ethically, – having not learned anything, – our arrogant
Scientist's super-bugs eat us alive, as we struggle to achieve
The future that you, Plato did wisely teach us and envision. 
Our clueless fantasies intermingle with the ideas of a dancing
Godless, supercharged reality, religions of law, medicine,
Sports, and Evolutions police our myopic visions.
   
Society's child stands blind, deaf and dumb in the path,
As pachyderms of chaos and greed stampede,  while we – zombies
Encircle the boiling black cauldrons of enchanting witches –
That call,  danger, lying in wait; attacks our witless souls,
That stumble too close and fall blindly into the melting-pot... 
Our children weep, as vast portions of the past remain
Unresolved, awaiting Plato's sunrise of prudence for us all
 

 

 


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 Reviews of "Plato's Shadow"
Reviewed on July 3, 2009
Hi Rocky - When will the Future Geniuses (so called) learn from the Historical minds of virtue!???
I wish for it to happen NOW!
but we circle over it again and again...
What a provoking Poem "Plato's Shadow" I love reading you, and learning from your inner light, as I do! OPEN up to YOU! and your poetry, teachings and knowings...

WRITE ON!
Warmest Blessings and Hugs, Purple Lady Passion, SHEExooo
P.S. I'm glad I "finely" did gravitate to your word/YOU/ and your spacial existence, or was it fate...

Reviewed by Regis Auffray
Reviewed on March 4, 2009
A fine tribute to Plato and a condemnation of our modern day society. Thank you, Rockie. Love and peace to you,

Regis

Reviewed by Georg Mateos
Reviewed on February 25, 2009
In the Greek atrium they would whisper about his letters and about his teachings to a clueless upper class of thinkers which ethics were only consider if it gave them praise.
A most thoughtful composition.

Georg


Reviewed by John Domino
Reviewed on February 22, 2009
Insightful poem my friend.
Ahhhhhhh! History repeats itself.

Pizzaman

Reviewed on February 22, 2009
I like this composition for its outstanding sophisticated satire, its lexis, voice, contents and message. "Plato's Shadow" did active my thinking dynamo.

Here I understand what it means when one says: Don't mistake, Free Verse is not a composition without verse, grammar, and honor to the language. Free Verse is a composition not subjected to rhyme and metrics, but that flashes up all that Poetry glows in art and science.

"Plato's Shadow" sings wisely.

In respect and admiration,

Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU

Reviewed by Sheila Roy
Reviewed on February 6, 2009
This is a timeless message. The voice in this poem pulled me in with its power. Word choices are meaningful and outside the box. Excellent work:)
Sheila

Reviewed by 000 000 (Reader)
Reviewed on February 6, 2009
Written with wonder..and giving us a thought for the line...unattended mental plots!
Well written and conceived verse

Reviewed by J'nia Fowler
Reviewed on February 5, 2009
Am reminded of Mac Beth here with reference to the cauldrons and ensuing warnings, which we never seem to heed or even hear. Society at large may still be so un-evolved that we remain somewhat content to merely watch the shadows on the cave wall instead of seeing things clearly, as they are, and then doing something about it. I suppose that if we all get hungry enough we would then pose a great danger to the powers that be. Don't know. In respect and love, J'nia Excellent!

Reviewed by Eileen Brannon (Reader)
Reviewed on February 5, 2009
You forever astound me with your perceptions of what was what is and what may never be. If mankind would only listen to and learn from our history. Put GOD back into our daily lives. Plato and his teachings could and should come alive again. Oh what a better world this would be. Well done. Keep giving of your expertise to this thirsty society.
Always my love!

Reviewed by Bonnie May
Reviewed on February 5, 2009
WOW Brilliant write Rockie this one I will ponder all day for this is very thought provoking...You talent is remarkable. Love and hugs,Bonnie

Reviewed by Paul Berube
Reviewed on February 5, 2009
Excellent work my friend. Very well done. God bless.

Reviewed on February 4, 2009
Good questions you bring up here, a thought provoking write
In Christs Love
Michelle~


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