A Philosopher In Christchurch. Comments

At least you have read and appreciated this slightly academic poem. Thanks to you.

I have also read Plato, 'The Republic', Aristotle, Socrates; plays by Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Euripides, in there social context; I have read science and pseudo-science; therefore the light of Vienna in the 1930s swallowed by an unexpected unimaginable Nazi tragedy sweeping across Europe, I find even more intriguing straying from your original theme, because the German Jewish poet, journalist, essayist, and literary critic Heinrich Heine predicted it a century before it happened. The lesson in history is when the most advanced society in Europe can fall so far, it means other societies can fall from the apex of civilization into barbaric beliefs and persecution. The lesson of history is morality and the virtues of human rights upheld, by good hearted people and not technology saves and enlightens. It seems also that those who love and appreciate nature and beautiful places often explore society to exquisite depths, but freedom loving societies seem easy prey for hawks of war. Societies have golden ages because achievement are taken for granted and freedom not valued honoured fought for can be easily lost. I think you would have to know both New Zealand and Europe in this time period to delve the depths of this poem. Those of us who travelled and lived in different countries and cultures see and love contrasts we seldom voice in words, but we do enjoy themes of contrast within the writing of other artists other minds.