Author Archives: Toxic Scribe

The Vessel

A Poem and Reflection on the Nature of Death “But now, O’ Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” -Isaiah 64:8    The Vessel O’ man filled with years  Now lies a vessel of drear     Who once walked and laboredContinue reading “The Vessel”

A Comparison of the Philosopher-Kings in Plato’s Republic and Al-Farabi’s The Attainment of Happiness

An Essay by Daniel Joshuva  Overview:  This essay was written by my friend, Dany (Daniel) Joshuva, who’s been my colleague as we’ve both been studying literature, philosophy, theology, and various other topics for the past few years. Last semester he took a class regarding the Introduction to Classics of Western Thoughts and wrote this amazingContinue reading “A Comparison of the Philosopher-Kings in Plato’s Republic and Al-Farabi’s The Attainment of Happiness”

The Guest House

A Poem by Rumi: A Persian Poet, Theologian, and Scholar (1207-1273 A.D.) This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness,some momentary awareness comesas an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all!Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,who violently sweep your houseempty of its furniture, still,treat eachContinue reading “The Guest House”

The Possessed by Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Possessed was published in 1872. A near 700 page fiction novel (depending on which edition) regarding the time when Russia was drawing closer to an Age of Revolution; narrating on a sect of atheists, socialists, terrorists, intellectuals, and nihilists in a Russian town known as, Skvoreshniki, as it leads to a collective and individual chaos.

Songs of Reflection: Forbearing Stars of Time

A rose will bloom and die A caterpillar may convert to a butterfly A tree will stay up for the moon A cicada will sing its last tune To saunter through the fields under the forbearing stars  How they conjure peace and solitude from a distance so far To cherish every breath of time beforeContinue reading “Songs of Reflection: Forbearing Stars of Time”