"Plato on the Soul" by Ulyses Razo

Plato on the Soul

Plato says the soul is split
Into at least two parts.

First comes the rational, the part
Guided by reason. This section says
No, you are better than this.
(How many times must I hear this voice
When thinking of girlfriends, or pieces,
Or the way I lead my life).

Then there’s the appetitive part
Which whispers above the ear lobe:
Listen to me; you deserve what you deserve.

(This one hides behind every image,
Every simple choice).

I sit here, debating between a cigarette and Sylvia Plath.
Shall I read or shall I smoke. Shall I drink
A beer or sleep? And is there a difference,
In the end, between the pairs?

The well-ordered soul, Plato says, will not question
Which of the two is right. The well-ordered soul
Will simply know.

Ulyses Razo

The son of Mexican parents, Ulyses Razo is a recent graduate from the University of Washington, Seattle. He writes poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, film criticism, and is a translator of Spanish language prose and poetry. His work can be found in Voices, Capillaries, Bricolage, and Phi. He currently resides in the state of Washington.

Photo Credit: Staff