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Poems by John Pilkey
              Jacques-Louis David. Death of Socrates (1787)


                              A mortal man can perish many ways:
                                        collision, gasping, draining, shriveling up.
                                        Poor Socrates imbibed a hasty cup
                                        and taught philosophers to count their days.
                              Because of danger we endure the haze
                                        of wearing business shoes that put a stop
                                        to walking with the lordly angels' crop
                                        of newlywed immortals who amaze.
                              These lowly shoes Apostle titles "peace"
                                        and necessary while we gasp and try
                                        to grunt a while in order to survive
                              and breadwin mother, daughter, lounger, niece.
                                        But see how needlessly we walkers die
                                        once the feet of freedom come alive.

John Davis Pilkey
Death Walk