In this article we shall examine the term Poem. Our adventures through these analysis aims to restore the value to those important concepts in order to save the alienation of our culture.
Every day we use terms that have changed from their initial purpose into something abstract, they have been bastardized through the fusion of languages and cultures, leading us to further widen our cultural gaps since the points of reference alter continuously. And as it seems it is harder to keep up with the continuing shifts in the terms of reference than studying the true point of reference. Paradox? Maybe….our lives are full of paradoxes, one more wouldn’t really hurt us, or Would it?
So to begin our analysis with the term poem, lets examine its root: The rhema(verb) POIEIN.
Poiein literally means in Hellenic “to create”.
Socrates in his elaborative arguments said that Poiesis (creation) is that which occurs “ek tou mi ontos” (from the non-existance) in other words creation applies only when we create something from the non-existance. Otherwise it would be modification, not creation.
So, Poem or Poiema in Hellenic is something that is created out of nothing. Like an idea for example. Poet or Poietes is the Creator.
However nowadays we use the term poem to refer to a verbal composition only. Under this perspective Hesiods Cosmogony is indeed a Poem like the Hemingway’s poems for example. But is it just that? Is it just an imaginary song? During his time, the term Poem did not apply only to songs it applied to every single concept of creation.
In other words, Hesiod’s song is a creation for the creator(Chaos).
Poem for the Poet.
