For fault Melians slaughter broke
any faith his spirit held.
Torn from Athens haughty pride
nor part religion falsely hide
with wit Orphic doctrine told
the mysteries of Eleusis and
with his ax chopped Herculean
fingers stout and boiled his
turnip dinner side revealed
no gods inside.
So Peresone from Hades celebrated fire
grew his hate revealed a heart of stone
No gods prevailed from heavy sea
to rescue godless man from hands
of seamen bent on death from fear
upon their own heads fell for
carrying this man from godless hell.
the faith of atheists now we tell
Diagorathian heart their home.
Author notes
Diagoras
Long held as an philosopher, poet and Athenian criminal because of his atheistic views. Truly this great thinker had at least a tongue in cheek approach to discrediting gods of wood and stone by using one such idol as firewood to cook his lunch. He saw beyond he religion of wood, metal and stone, perhaps deep within like the lyric poetry he wrote, for spiritual reality beyond the physical world.
A contest entry
- My Knights, My Round Table, Your Thoughts by enlightenedatheist.
1050 points, ended July 17, 12 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments Please -
Comments
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Ahhh a fantastic telling of Diagoras' life and philosophies.
No gods prevailed from heavy sea
to rescue godless man from hands
of seamen bent on death from fear
upon their own heads fell for
carrying this man from godless hell.
My fave part... I just enjoyed the way it was worded to tell a tale that is always heard in the same way... it presents it in a refreshing light. Good luck! -
Oh the words, the words, Gods of wood and stone that would but serve as proper cooking fuel, Ha! This Diagoras would be welcome at my table any day for in the proper understanding that Gods and religion only exist in the confines of our inner sanctum then he was well ahead of his day.
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I like this alot, very well written and such detail, always a great plus...but a few rules are missing ( to be honest not a single entry yet has done this contest right and i am just about to start quing everything; i am frustrated). I state in my rules that in your AN you are to write who this is about, i know your title is obvoius, but also what about this person inspires you.....those are the exact words i use in my rules too. So long as you fix this i will be happy to honor it.
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My dear
You jump so fast that I can not keep up. As you chided me and accused me of not following the rules I was trying to save the very work of which you speak.
In other words Damn! I was doing what you asked already, but you were on the site and it would not save until you got off : ) That said, I hope you read what I wrote as Diagorias is a favorite of mine.
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