‘Stranger, scratch for me on this shell Aristides’ name <br />to banish him away’ an aged illiterate Athenian begged <br />General Aristides who happened to pass by. <br /> <br />‘This way’, Aristides advises him and scratches, <br />then stands aside to let the aged man autonomous <br />to exercise his right of voting as an ordinary citizen, <br />though he knew he increases his conviction by one <br />due to ignorance (the General turned his face to hide <br />a tear for the Knowledge that takes us so far away) . <br /> <br />I don’t envy those who gain by who supported the right of an ignorant person, <br />though you could easily mislead and cheat him. <br /> <br />My grape, you are not blotted out in the wine-press <br />for you become wine, taste and perfume for all folks. <br /> <br />Being exiled you are a pendulum lifted up to upper point, <br />yet your dislocation is instantaneous. You save energy <br />so your gravity turns into motion and thus you return <br />down to the central point of the equilibrium, oh virtue. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />© Joseph S. Josephides<br /><br />Joseph S. Josephides<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/aristides/
