Their Final Pathetic Option
“It is therefore necessary to give orders, not only to poets, but also to all artists and craftsmen, that they should portray the image of goodness in their works and avoid everything that is ugly and bad…”. ~ Penelope Murray, Plato on Poetry, 5
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~ Philippians 4:8
The poets and the artists, whatever
The genre of their work, should do as they
Are told by better men. Thus forever
Must be the setup. Rulers have their say,
Creative sorts must follow guidelines set
By those who run the nation, and the rest
Is obvious. If guidelines are not met,
Then books are burned. The tyrants do their best
To blinker us, especially the young.
If burning books is not enough, then burn
The music, too. Yank out the artist’s tongue.
They must be careful what our youths can learn.
..When Hitler, Stalin, and the Maos are through,
….They still can’t stop us being me and you…
Except by killing.