The Tonic of Thought from Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
Not all of thought is good, but thinking heals,
Or offers therapy. The thinkers past
Give guidance in their scrolls and make appeals.
We find that we are hungry, so we cast
Our nets far wider. Thoughts from yesterday
Are hauled up, silvery, shining, and we sort
Them when we get to shore. A lot turn gray.
We throw them back, but some of them exhort.
From Meditations we select a few
That seem more common sense than like the brains
Of high philosophy filtrated through
Pedantic stoicism. Higher planes
Of Platonism (all that jazz and more)
Are not required. We choose from Marcus’ drawer.
