Ο Σκύλος

Contemporary

Of those we idolize now:

Stalwarts of wisdom,

Conquerors (mass killers) and

Writers of the lot.

The trod path he did not walk,

His residence, a

Large ceramic jar, rising

From it in the morn

(Like Dali and Gala when

They broke through that huge

Egg’s shell on the tranquil shore

In the film “Chaos

And Creation,” emerging

Exultant), searching  

For an honest man, basking

In lanternlight that

Illuminated his path

Despite the sunlight’s

Interference, reflecting

Off his lantern, and

With utter contempt for the

Norms of the day, he’s

Said to have relieved himself

In many ways, in

Public and on the public,

As they might pass by

In horror: living for true

Virtue, in the face

Of corruptions and constraints

Like absurd taboos

Born from society’s strict

Conventions and mass

Want of possessions, wealth, fame,

And of course, one can’t

Leave out power; for rather

Those simple, austere,

Self-sufficient, minimal

Steps towards being

Happy, drove him, and famous

For mocking the Son

Of Zeus who’d been blocking that

Very sunlight, he,

Lantern in grasp, found pointless,

Confirming for the

Conqueror his own respect

And one might even

Say envy, as it’s been said

That had he not been

A world-renowned ruler, he’d

Pick the life of this

“Dog,” a moniker given

By those who declared

Him a vagrant, whilst he walked

Bearing parrhesia,

Fearless and indifferent

To those who assumed

That they understood freedom.

And yes, it’s also

Said he brought a featherless

Chicken to disturb

The pontification of

That sage bearing the

Predominant forehead or

Broad size and strength that

Gained him his nickname whilst he

Wandered in those caves.

And yes, maybe he did hold

His own breath in a

Voluntary statement of

One’s autonomy,

Proving his ability

To overcome the

Very aspects of a life

Whose entrance occurred

Without his permit:

Lucky to have lived

Where eccentricity was

Tolerated in

Contemplators, and the need

For being labeled

A visionary

Didn’t cross their minds.  Notions,

Ideas, insights,

All made for lively debate,

Were productive for

A healthy society,

And there is no doubt that he’d

Be shot in the street today.