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The Eye of the Beholder
Bare rock emanating orange sun rays lures me to its cleft
To the touch its sensation cold yet inviting
The earthen mound taunts me with its hidden voice, bereft
Of mortal tone it cries out in visual ecstasy
by Cheryl Lynn Gardner, a/k/a The Midnight Writer
A popular quote states that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". I've discovered this altruism to be a governing relative truth in my life. The essence of this paraphrased quotation intrigued me so much that I applied it to a scene that attracted both my eyes and my mind and caused me to think of eternal places while on earth. My intrigue led to curiosity that I quelled by searching online for the origin of this quotation. I was delighted to find the original was spoken first by Plato and all paraphrased similes lead back to this profound observation by one of time's leading philosophers.
"Remember how in that communion only, beholding beauty with the eye of the mind, he will be enabled to bring forth, not images of beauty, but realities (for he has hold not of an image but of a reality), and bringing forth and nourishing true virtue to become the friend of God and be immortal, if mortal man may."
-Plato, Symposium Finding the source of this beautiful sentiment reminds me that poets are philosophers who access the immortal things of God and convey them in rhyme, reason, muse, romance and fantasy for others to consume. I feel inspired once again by all God's creation and I give humble thanks to my Heavenly Father Creator for giving me such a gift to use in mortality.
