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Poetry

Philosopher or Poettess?

by Sylvia Plate

The Republic says, “Out, you verse mongers!
Gone, bards, seduce us not!”
Sweet singing – and the reply? “Goodbye!”
We poetesses – are our words honey to a diabetic Socrates?
Do we weaken the knees of Athenian youth,
No longer able to march to Sparta’s beat?
Our brother Homer is cast out to wine-dark sea,
And we are to follow.

Philosophy, poetry; poetry, philosophy…
Is it a philosophical mistake to separate the two,
A false dilemma, perpetrated by lovers of logic?
We poetesses carry wisdom in our candied cart,
And I live the life that gives the lie to The Republic:
Plate is very like Plato!