! Godlike Poem by Michael Shepherd

So you're scrolling fast
down a page of
yeah yeah
those old Greek guys
did they spend their time
dreaming up quotes?

there goes
Democritus (460 - 370BC)
(though of course he didn't know
it was BC did he...?)
saying
'It is godlike
ever
to think
on something beautiful and
on something new.'

and just for a moment
your mind stops mid-scroll:
what was he wearing
that day, was it warm,
was he wearing the standard toga
in off-white or Persil white,
sandals I guess,
writing with some kinda
Greek reed-pen on some kinda
tablet thing
what he had mulled over, polished
fit for posterity
if there would be a posterity

or had he just had
this beautiful, new thought
come to him in his
beautiful, bright mind,
the sun shining on
the Acropolis up there,
the scent of herbs from
the sides of the hills,
still green and wooded,
feeling himself yes godlike
and maybe saying
a grateful thankyou
to the Muse
in Greek of course.