For your consideration, one of many 12-sided copper and bronze-alloyed objects unearthed in Europe and attendant islands. They are of Roman origin, around 200 AD and earlier:
"The dodecahedron is the shape used for embroidering the constellations of heaven." --Plato (circa 400 BC).
Whether it was an early form of dice in crapgames or sacred object really makes little difference. These objects of astonishing antiquity have been found all over western Europe and, for me, compose a...
Prayer
Lord, in discord we have
Fought catastrophes,
Turned and run
To what is dear.
Now, on our knees,
We are moved to ask:
Please, can we not
Improve from here,
Instead of Armageddon?
--------I had hoped to make this a 12-lined poem but only managed 9. The tardy 3 lines doubtless exist in the future but currently exceed my depth. Is anybody working on this? Best of LUCK to all of us.
An offering---
ReplyDeleteCan light lead us
from the dark despair
to hope and purpose fair?
An excellent offering, Tom. Thanks!
DeleteBeyond my ability, Geo. I hope you garner many fine examples, triangles, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteDear Joanne, triangulation is a wondrous way to determine coordinates, but I got a D in high school geometry. Have tried to improve over the past century but find the dodecahedron more manageable --except for spelling, which I've never been good at either.
DeleteWhat an interesting object and a lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Dear Janie Junebug, the objects reflect a mastery of metallurgy and geometric precision. Whether Plato's suggestion that the form expressed the shape of the universe, I still don't know. But I needed to do a poem about it. Thank you.
DeleteDefinitely beyond my capabilities, but that never stops me from at least trying…….
ReplyDeleteBut, if it’s so
the end is near,
may I love where I go.
PipeTobacco
Dear Prof., a palpable hit! Thanks!
DeleteMay we go where
Love may grow.
That's an amazing artifact, Geo. Who knows what other wonders have been lost to the ravages of time; maybe there have been many other wondrous things that we will never know about.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your poem's sentiment and hope you find your other three lines in the fullness of time.
Dear Jenny, A hope I share. Thank you!
DeleteDear Geo, fret not, your missing three lines are there somewhere, they just need to be discovered and excavated, and will in due time.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Julia
Dear Julia, most encouraging! Thanks. Those 3 lines are doubtless out "there somewhere", and I am out here somewhere. As you say, "in due time."
Delete