A Series Of Thoughts Loosely Styled On The Platonic Writings* Poem by Terence George Craddock (Spectral Images and Images Of Light)

In the past there were a few
who lived in places,
surrounded by riches,
and many of these royals
thought themselves free.
Yet their every act
was judged by a thousand
cruel, pitiless eyes.

The eyes of a jealous,
ignorant, stagnant society,
that had run its course.
Whose bonds held it fast
on every bordered side.

It was often impossible
or extremely difficult
to be different in
this archaic world.
There are countless
examples of this. Sadly,
some of these forms
still exist among us today.

If you would know truth
you must seek it among
all kinds of men. (People)
For the says of the learned
are like the heavy wines
of Asia Minor,
which cloud the mind
and cause it to dwell
in mists of words
without understanding.

It is normally hard
for the pampered rich
to achieve to greatness
or to perform noble deeds.
For the rich are ensnared
by their possessions.
The care of them
fills their whole mind.
Those who seem first
with men (People)
are often last with God.

For the inward qualities
come first with God,
while the outward signs
come last. The first
shall be last and the last first.
This is speaking
not of this world
but of the spirit,
and teachings
which are to come.

Now when speaking
of the philosopher,
can we not say
that philosophers are
the lovers
of the vision of truth?

That the philosopher is a lover,
not of a part of wisdom only,
but of the whole? Reflect,
is not the dreamer,
sleeping or waking,
one who likens
dissimilar things,
who puts the copy
in place of the real?

Until philosophers are kings,
or kings and princes
of this world have
the spirit and power
of philosophy,
with political greatness
and wisdom meet in one.
While those with commoner
natures who pursue either
to the exclusion of the other
are compelled to stand aside,
cities will never have rest
from their evils. No, nor
the human race - and then
only will this our State
have a possibility of life
and behold the light of day.

The many, we say, are seen
but not known,
and ideas are known
but not seen.
Sight is by far
the most costly and complex
piece of workmanship
which the artificer
of the senses ever contrived.

Sight being, as I conceive,
in the eyes, the bond
which links sight and visibility
together incorporating light;
and of all organs the eye
is the most like the sun.

For the power of the eye,
possesses a sort of effluence,
which is dispersed from the sun.
When a person directs their eyes
towards objects on which the light
of day is no longer shining,
but the moon and stars only,
eyes see dimly, and are nearly
blinded with no clearness
of vision in them.

But when eyes are directed
towards objects
on which the sun shines,
eyes see clearly
and there is sight in them.

The soul is like the eye.
When resting upon
that on which truth
and light shine,
the soul perceives
and understands
and is radiant with intelligence.

But when turned towards the twilight
of becoming and perishing,
then the soul has opinion only,
and goes blinking about,
and is first of one opinion
and then of another,
and seems to have no intelligence.

In life no man (People)
should have to walk
the earth alone.
A man should have a mate,
to share his luck and strengths,
but his sorrows also.
Life is flavoured with such courage.

Strange how it is often
the spoiled who weaken
and cry first,
and the injured,
the maimed, the blind,
the poor, who fight on alone.