Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Colin Stewart Jones: A PRIORI

.
verbatim………………………..word for word
vox Dei vivat…………………..the voice of God lives
vis vitae………………………….an energy (a living force)
via, veritas, vita………………the way, the truth, the life
verbum sat sapienti…………a word is enough for a wise man


Years ago my Latin teacher told me that river and rival have the same root. Now as I look across the Euphrates I see my cousin and must hate him because he is descended from Ishmael and I don't care for his religion. "At least we can worship any god we choose." Mutatis mutandis.

They are Legion—for they are many.

Ah! But we have the Classical Tradition. Plato was an ideas man, true, but is that worth dying for? So we have landed classes and political oligarchies that will fight to maintain our liberty. "They're all terrorists and treat their women like shit." Ex uno disce omnes.

We are Idealists—not ideologues.

"You've never fought in a war." Even so, many have won the freedom for me not to impose my will upon another. Nevertheless, the Lion still follows the Eagle into battle. Dum spiro, spero.


I am Poet . . .


crescent moon—
tonight the man
is beheaded


Translations:

Mutatis mutandis: with the necessary changes
Ex uno disce omnes: from one judge of the rest
Dum spiro, spero: while I breathe, I hope

by Colin Stewart Jones
Aberdeen, Scotland

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