The Lying Poets (Pt. 2)

The Fool

 We also know too little, and are bad learners: so we are obliged to lie. And which of us poets  has not adulterated his wine? Many a poisonous hotchpotch has evolved in our cellars: many  an indescribable thing has there been done. And because we know little, therefore are we  pleased from the heart with the poor in spirit, especially when they are young women! And  even of those things are we desirous, which old women tell one another in the evening. This do we call the eternally feminine in us. And as if there were a special secret access to  knowledge, which chokes up for those who learn anything, so do we believe in the people  and in their “wisdom.” This, however, do all poets believe: that whoever pricks up his ears  when lying in the grass or on lonely slopes, learns something of the things that are between  heaven and earth. And if there come to them tender emotions, then do the poets always think that nature herself is in love with them: And that she steals to their ear to whisper secrets into it, and amorous flatteries: of this do they plume and pride themselves, before all  mortals!

from: Thus Spoke Zarathustra  by  F. Nietzsche (Ed: Bill Chapko)

The Lying Poets (Pt. 1)

London after Midnight

“Since I have known the body better” – said Zarathustra to one of his disciples – “the spirit has only been to me symbolically spirit; and all the ‘imperishable’ – that is also but a simile.”

“So have I heard you say once before,” answered the disciple, ” and then you added: ‘But the poets lie too much.’ Why didst you say that the poets lie too much?”

“Why?” said Zarathustra. “you ask why? I do not belong to those who may be asked after their Why. Is my experience but of yesterday? It is long ago that I experienced the reasons for my opinions. Should I not have to be a cask of memory, if I also wanted to have my reasons with me? It is already too much for me even to retain my opinions; and many a bird flies away. And sometimes, also, do I find a fugitive creature in my dovecote, which is alien to me, and trembles when I lay my hand upon it. But what did Zarathustra once say to you? That the poets lie too much? – But Zarathustra also is a poet. Do you believe that he there spoke the truth? Why do you believe it?”

The disciple answered: “I believe in Zarathustra.” But Zarathustra shook his head and smiled.
“Belief does not sanctify me”, said he, “least of all the belief in myself. But granting that someone did say in all seriousness that the poets lie too much: he was right – we do lie too much.”


from: Thus Spoke Zarathustra  by  F. Nietzsche (Ed: Bill Chapko)

Penultimate NaPoWriMo Post 2015

NaPoWriMo 2015

Dang. I thought yesterday’s poem,
Freethinkers Unchained was one of my best.
I unleashed it on the waiting world
and got ONE FREAKING VIEW in 24 hours ha ha ha.
I guess Satan is STILL ruling this planet…

Thank you Lord for the blessings of poetic creation in a void.

Meanwhile, oh loyal legions of followers,
get ready for my final NaPoWriMo poem.
(The 4 of you really need to pay attention.)

Unfortunate Juxtapositions

IslamicStreet     Our jihad is their day of judgement
Your judgement is God’s retribution
Their threats are not empty
Our iniquity is not yet complete
It’s just alarmist nonsense
It is not actually happening yet…

Your data plan upgrade was his execution
My Jeremiad was her Magnificat
Their Canaan is our Babylonian exile
The Babylonian exile was a Manchurian candidate
All candidates are out of commission
Your Messianic return will be their Assyrian uprising.
Their fortuitous coincidence is our unfortunate juxtaposition.

One man’s doom is another man’s heaven
Count the hours—don’t stop at eleven
It falls at the end of the sixtieth minute
No matter how the Godless try to spin it
Read the headlines—then get back to me
you who read poetry blogs distractedly ).