Ode to Universal, Ultimate Absolutes

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Vestibular Bard
Member

since 2008-12-11

Posts 284
New York

0 posted 2008-12-15 06:33 PM

Ode to Universal, Ultimate Absolutes
- by The Vestibular Bard

Warning: Little Known Poetic References Ahead
Proceed with caution!

To fully appreciate the nuance of the last verse, a modicum of familiarity with Christian "Reformed" theology, presuppositional aplologetics, and Greg Bahnsen, an author on these topics, is required.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presuppositional_apologetics

There once lived a pompous human,
His “reality” seemed small…
And he yearned to make it bigger,
With a word that would enthrall…
So he pleaded with thesaurus,
“Please help my banality!”
And now he smugly calls it -
“Ultimate Reality!”

There once lived a pious thinker,
His “morality” seemed "right"…
And he yearned to sway his brothers,
With some proof that was airtight.
So he rummaged round his lexis,
For a horn that he could toot…
And then the idea hit him;
“I’ll just call it 'absolute’!!!”

There once lived a fan of Calvin,
He learned “one plus one is two”…
And presupposed ‘twas his own god,
Made this equation - “true”
So he bought a book by Bahnsen,
That he read while in Duluth…
And now he stands enlightened,
With a “universal truth!”.

[This message has been edited by Vestibular Bard (12-17-2008 06:20 AM).]

Vestibular Bard
Member

since 2008-12-11

Posts 284
New York

1 posted 2008-12-15 06:42 PM

I failed to mention that despite the illusion to it having a horn you can 'toot'...

...the word 'lexis', as used in the poem, does not refer to a misspelled car brand.

moonbeam

Member Elite

since 2005-12-24

Posts 2356

2 posted 2008-12-17 05:29 AM

My God, umm, sorry Bard, this is sooo clever, and, seeing as you particularly draw our attention to it, the subtle nuance of the last strophe especially, not to mention the rather delicate way you use pastel shaded poesy to make a direct personal attack on me and, what you erroneously seem to think are, my beliefs.

ethome
Member Patricius

since 2000-05-14

Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada

3 posted 2008-12-17 05:39 AM

Would you like to swing on a star
Carry Moonbeam home in a jar
OR would you rather be a mule!

Eric

Vestibular Bard
Member

since 2008-12-11

Posts 284
New York

4 posted 2008-12-17 06:19 AM

Dearest moonbeam,

I know you'd like to imagine that all my poetry is about you...

...but I assure you, that is not the case.

This poem was actually written a couple of years ago, and inspired by a discussion I was having with a friend of mine, who is a staunch Calvinist, a subscriber of Reformed Theology, a big fan of Greg Bahnsen, (he loaned me his book...I never read it), and  who had been debating the concepts of certain 'universal truths' like 'logic' being 'proof' of his, very specific personal god of Christian reformed theology.

I found that interesting enough to be inspired to write this. When I shared it with him, we found it both hilarious and deeply disturbing...so...mission accomplished as far as I was concerned.

Now then, the passing reference to 'moonbeam' in opening italics is an indirect reference of something you said about ME...remember? Again, it was meant to be a humorous and self effacing quip,  but apparently, you took it as something more, because of the way I framed it, and for that I apologize. I have since removed it, so there is no misunderstanding, again, I apologize.

The rest of the poem itself certainly has absolutely nothing to do with you or your religious beliefs, whatever they may be, I don't really care...I'll just assume they don't perfectly match with my Calvinist friend who I wrote this for.

Have a nice day.

moonbeam

Member Elite

since 2005-12-24

Posts 2356

5 posted 2008-12-17 06:28 AM

Thank you Vestibular Bard for editing out the direct references to me and what I said to you. It would perhaps have been better if you had not said that it was inspired by a "stray moonbeam" if you wrote it 2 years ago. However I am now quite happy to accept the poem as a poem, and not a bad one at that. Especially as the thrust of it, lampooning absolutism and universalism (and all the other ‘ism's hopefully), is something I very much agree with.

Thank you also for the gracious apology.

Vestibular Bard
Member

since 2008-12-11

Posts 284
New York

6 posted 2008-12-17 07:35 AM

Dearest Moonbeam...(may I still call you dearest?)

You know I like you, I appreciate your acceptance of my apology, and I hope we can be friends. You certainly don't strike me as staunch fan of ‘isms’, nor does one really need to understand ‘reformed theology’ to appreciate my lampooning of them. I believe I detect in you, a wicked sense of insightful and wry humor, lurking just beneath that polished exterior you present to the world. Alas, if only I possessed such exterior smoothness…I wouldn’t get in so much trouble with my words. But as my other poem laments…I’m not nice…

Since I owe you a debt, anytime you need a pet 'ism' lampooned, and knowing this is my specialty, please call on me and my muse, to be your veiled, commissioned bard.

SEA