Ο Σκύλος Poem by ed purchla

Contemporary
Of those we idolize now:
Stalwarts of wisdom,
Conquerors (mass killers) and
Writers of the lot.
The trod path he did not walk,
His residence, a
Large ceramic jar, rising
From it in the morn
(Like Dali and Gala when
They broke through that huge
Egg's shell on the tranquil shore
In the film 'Chaos
And Creation, ' emerging
Exultant) , searching
For an honest man, basking
In lanternlight that
Illuminated his path
Despite the sunlight's
Interference, reflecting
Off his lantern, and
With utter contempt for the
Norms of the day, he's
Said to have relieved himself
In many ways, in
Public and on the public,
As they might pass by
In horror: living for true
Virtue, in the face
Of corruptions and constraints
Like absurd taboos
Born from society's strict
Conventions and mass
Want of possessions, wealth, fame,
And of course, one can't
Leave out power; for rather
Those simple, austere,
Self-sufficient, minimal
Steps towards being
Happy, drove him, and famous
For mocking the Son
Of Zeus who'd been blocking that
Very sunlight, he,
Lantern in grasp, found pointless,
Confirming for the
Conqueror his own respect
And one might even
Say envy, as it's been said
That had he not been
A world-renowned ruler, he'd
Pick the life of this
'Dog, ' a moniker given
By those who declared
Him a vagrant, whilst he walked
Bearing parrhesia,
Fearless and indifferent
To those who assumed
That they understood freedom.
And yes, it's also
Said he brought a featherless
Chicken to disturb
The pontification of
That sage bearing the
Predominant forehead or
Broad size and strength that
Gained him his nickname whilst he
Wandered in those caves.
And yes, maybe he did hold
His own breath in a
Voluntary statement of
One's autonomy,
Proving his ability
To overcome the
Very aspects of a life
Whose entrance occurred
Without his permit:
Lucky to have lived
Where eccentricity was
Tolerated in
Contemplators, and the need
For being labeled
A visionary
Didn't cross their minds. Notions,
Ideas, insights,
All made for lively debate,
Were productive for
A healthy society,
And there is no doubt that he'd
Be shot in the street today.