That Supreme Nazi, Plato,
Sounded Off about Orpheus
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse
He takes the poison of his courage and
His love. He does not try to dazzle death
With poetry: Romeo is not bland
Like that. He gulps down. He breathes his last breath
For love made up of colors of the fire
Flame swallowers devour. He just kills
Himself. Yet Orpheus did not desire
That heroism. He offered Pluto thrills
To charm Eurydice past Hades’ clasp
But did not offer up his harping life.
The poet did not leap into the grasp
Of hell to save his ravishment stained wife.
..The god of Hades loved his wife too much
….To give the coward back his wife to touch.