In ancient times this great obsession,
By the learned frowned upon,
By mighty kings and princes shunned,
In favour of pursuits made noble,
Machiavelli did command the thoughts
of those who would be Caesar,
Yet every man would Caesar be,
Aspire to such majesty,
For to disdain as misconstrued,
Virtuosness and chivalry,
But idle whim and fanciful;
Once base and most contemptible,
That which becomes desirable.
Now in mockery regard things past,
As but the madness of some pagan age,
Yet such reverence accord those,
Who ill-contented unfulfilled,
Out from Pandora's box hath spilled what yet remained.
Mankind, art thou blind?,
Or Lord of all that thou canst see,
Or lustful for such majesty;
A martyr to the candle's flame:
Foolhardy Icarus became.
1991
Reason for writing:
Time
Birth sign: Not entered
You need to log in to edit this poem if it is yours.
View more poems by JAAN.