Why Socrates Did Not Write.... Poem by RIC BASTASA

he believes in what must be said
trusting in the recall of what is important
you should have paid more attention and
kept everything dear inside your heart
he never believes in the written word
he knows that time keeps on changing
and words in print do not, and like
Heraclitus, he had always invoked
that he can never step on the same river twice

i am no Socrates, neither am i Plato
i keep notes, and write, but i shall not always be understood.

i trust in the written word, and i must be foolish though.
i believe in epitaphs and tombstones, the tablets,
the bytes, those that i leave and soon may rise like the dead
must they redeem me soonest
that i can perhaps hope.

the words can go on, without me, i keep on murmuring
may my words protect me, may my letters make you believe my truths.

may i traverse the right path, and forever, not be punished
to be back, here, these valleys of tears, these thalwegs of no return.