Antigone's Arete

Tossed up by

the deep–sea-cold 

alone shell blown by
 'Winds of change' 

 

sails well across 

white-cap breakers 

Cast -off by its owner

destiny unknown –
dreams change

doubts departing

dancer upon
waves of light 

without reserve

 Sirens singing
Yes to ‘Arete’

fragile heart abates,

 Calm is the soul
that is emptied
of all self.

Fin

Friday Flash 55

hosted by g-man

 write a poem in 55 words

Antigone's Arete
Tossed up by
 the deep – sea- cold
Alone shell blown by
 “Winds of change”
sails well across
White-cap breakers
Cast -off by its owner
Destiny unknown

Dreams change
Doubts departing
Dancer upon 

Waves of light
Without reserve
Sirens singing
Yes to ‘Arete’
Fragile heart abates,
Calm is the soul
that is emptied
of all self.

Fin

The noun 'Arete' is Greek for 'excellence, goodness, virtue'. Its application to life is seen in one's living up to one's full potential. It also is seen in one's handling adversity with courage and strength.

The goodness or virtue of a person.   Aretē is therefore identified with what enables a person to live well or successfully, although whether virtue is then just a means to successful life or is an essential part of the activity of living well becomes controversial.

Antigone's Arete is shown by her giving Polyneices a decent burial in defiance of Theban King Creon's non burial order. She shows it again, after her arrest, when she says that Creon's order doesn't come from Zeus, the supreme god of Thebes. So she recognizes, and never backs down from, life's guiding principle of obeying god given laws.

According to Aristotle the various virtues consist in knowing how to strike a mean between opposing vices of excess and defect. Greek thought also paves the way for the Christian ideal that the fullest development of aretē for human beings consists in a self-sufficient life of contemplation and wisdom.
The Sanskrit word kusala is used in Buddhism to represent the same association of goodness with the skill of being a good human being.



photos Chiluly glass taken in Tacoma, Wa,   #4 & 5 The girl from Atlantis Vogue May 10 voyons-voir #6 Rodney Smith woman on plater