'...the function of living organisms is merely the distribution of matter...' BERTRAND RUSSELL Philosophers are a rare and valuable commodity Although innumerable shops for the selling of merchandise Are bursting with innumerable products on their shelves It is unreasonable to expect a busy assistant To find you just that shade of philosopher you require.
And in the right size and substance to satisfy your taste This is why it is so much easier to buy cheese.
All you have to do is to point at the wretched stuff And announce clearly: Half a pound please.
Then eat the stuff and take part, your own part In the bodily distribution of matter.
Ah, had you asked: half a philosopher's stone please You will find well-stocked shelves, right next to the cheese.
John Rety John Rety was born and lived in Budapest until he came to Britain as a teenager shortly after the Second WorldWar.This poem is from his latest poetry collection The Best of All PossibleWords.(Hearing Eye,London 2008).
John Rety runs theTorriano Meeting House poetry venue in KentishTown,London,and a Festschrift for him,Torriano Nights,(Acumen Publications,Brixham 2009) was recently launched at the Barbican Library.
The thokoloshe is to blame for many of the accidents, and worse, of life.
This poem is from his latest poetry collection The Best of All Possible Words (Hearing Eye, London 2008).