Monday, February 18, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
don't make me shank ya!
Yo an' NOW, ah SAID,
let me show in uh figure
how far our nature
iz enlightened or unenlightened:
let me show in uh figure
how far our nature
iz enlightened or unenlightened:
BEHOLD!
HUMAN BEINGS
living in an underground den,
which has uh mouf
open toward da light
an' reaching
all along da den;
here dey gots been
from they childhood,
an' gots they legs
an' necks chained
so dat dey cannot move,
an' can only see 'bfoe dem,
being prevented by da chains
from turning round they heads.
HUMAN BEINGS
living in an underground den,
which has uh mouf
open toward da light
an' reaching
all along da den;
here dey gots been
from they childhood,
an' gots they legs
an' necks chained
so dat dey cannot move,
an' can only see 'bfoe dem,
being prevented by da chains
from turning round they heads.
Above an' behind dem
uh fire iz blazing at uh distance,
an' between da fire
an' da prisoners
dere be uh raised way;
an' you will see,
if you peep,
uh low wall built along da way,
like da screen
which marionette–players gots in front o' dem,
ova which dey show da puppets!
uh fire iz blazing at uh distance,
an' between da fire
an' da prisoners
dere be uh raised way;
an' you will see,
if you peep,
uh low wall built along da way,
like da screen
which marionette–players gots in front o' dem,
ova which dey show da puppets!
Yo ah see.
an' DO YOU SEE,
ah said,
niggas passing along da wall
carrying all sorts o' vessels,
an' statues
an' figures o' animals
made o' wood an' stone
an' various materials,
which appear ova da wall?
ah said,
niggas passing along da wall
carrying all sorts o' vessels,
an' statues
an' figures o' animals
made o' wood an' stone
an' various materials,
which appear ova da wall?
Some o' dem is jivin',
others silent.
others silent.
YOU gots SHOWN ME uh strange image,
an' dey is strange prisoners.
an' dey is strange prisoners.
LIKE OURSELVES,
ah replied;
an' dey see only they own shadows,
or da shadows
o' one another,
which da fire throws
on da opposite wall o' da cave?
ah replied;
an' dey see only they own shadows,
or da shadows
o' one another,
which da fire throws
on da opposite wall o' da cave?
TRUE, HE SAID;
how could dey see anythin`
but da shadows
if dey wuz never allowed
ta move they heads?
how could dey see anythin`
but da shadows
if dey wuz never allowed
ta move they heads?
an' o' da OBJECTS
which is being carried
in like manner
dey would only
see da shadows?
which is being carried
in like manner
dey would only
see da shadows?
yeea , he said.
an' IF dey wuz ABLE
ta converse wif one another,
would dey not suppose
dat dey wuz naming
what wuz actually 'bfoe dem?
ta converse wif one another,
would dey not suppose
dat dey wuz naming
what wuz actually 'bfoe dem?
VERY true.
an' SUPPOSE FURTHER
dat da prison
had an echo
which came from da other side,
would dey not be sho ta fancy
when one o' da passers–by
spoke dat da voice
which dey heard
came from da passing shadow?
dat da prison
had an echo
which came from da other side,
would dey not be sho ta fancy
when one o' da passers–by
spoke dat da voice
which dey heard
came from da passing shadow?
nahh queshun, he replied.
ta dem, ah said,
da truf would be literally nuttin'
but da shadows o' da images.
da truf would be literally nuttin'
but da shadows o' da images.
dat iz certain.
an' NOW peep ag'in,
an' see what will naturally follow
if da prisoners is released
an' disabused o' they error.
an' see what will naturally follow
if da prisoners is released
an' disabused o' they error.
At first,
when any o' dem iz liberated
an' compelled suddenly ta stand up
an' turn his neck round
an' walk an' peep toward da light,
he will suffer sharp pains;
da glare will distress him,
an' he will be unable
ta see da realities
o' which in his former state
he had seen da shadows;
an' then conceive someone sayin` ta him,
dat what he seen 'bfoe
wuz an illusion,
but dat now,
when he iz approaching nearer
ta being an' his eye
iz turned toward mo' real existence,
he has uh clearer vision –
what will be his reply?
when any o' dem iz liberated
an' compelled suddenly ta stand up
an' turn his neck round
an' walk an' peep toward da light,
he will suffer sharp pains;
da glare will distress him,
an' he will be unable
ta see da realities
o' which in his former state
he had seen da shadows;
an' then conceive someone sayin` ta him,
dat what he seen 'bfoe
wuz an illusion,
but dat now,
when he iz approaching nearer
ta being an' his eye
iz turned toward mo' real existence,
he has uh clearer vision –
what will be his reply?
an' you may further imagine
dat his instructor iz pointing ta da objects
as dey pass an' requiring him ta name dem –
will he not be perplexed?
dat his instructor iz pointing ta da objects
as dey pass an' requiring him ta name dem –
will he not be perplexed?
Will he not fancy dat da shadows
which he formerly seen
is truer than da objects
which is now shown ta him?
which he formerly seen
is truer than da objects
which is now shown ta him?
FAR truer.
an' IF HE iz COMPELLED
ta peep straight at da light,
will he not gots uh pain in his peeps
which will make him turn away
ta take refuge in da objects o' vision
which he can see,
an' which he will conceive ta be in reality
clearer than da things which is now being shown ta him?
ta peep straight at da light,
will he not gots uh pain in his peeps
which will make him turn away
ta take refuge in da objects o' vision
which he can see,
an' which he will conceive ta be in reality
clearer than da things which is now being shown ta him?
TRUE, he said.
an' SUPPOSE ONCE mo',
dat he iz reluctantly dragged up
uh steep an' rugged ascent,
an' held fast
until he iz forced into da presence
o' da sun himself,
iz he not likely ta be pained an' irritated?
dat he iz reluctantly dragged up
uh steep an' rugged ascent,
an' held fast
until he iz forced into da presence
o' da sun himself,
iz he not likely ta be pained an' irritated?
hen he approaches da light
his peeps will be dazzled,
an' he will not be able ta see anythin` at all
o' what is now called realities.
his peeps will be dazzled,
an' he will not be able ta see anythin` at all
o' what is now called realities.
NOT ALL in uh moment, he said.
HE WILL REQUIRE ta grow accustomed
ta da sight o' da upper world.
ta da sight o' da upper world.
an' first he will see da shadows bomb,
next da reflections
o' niggas an' other objects in da water,
an' then da objects themselves;
then he will gaze upon da light o' da moon
an' da stars
an' da spangled heaven;
an' he will see da sky
an' da stars by night
bettah than da sun
or da light o' da sun by day?
next da reflections
o' niggas an' other objects in da water,
an' then da objects themselves;
then he will gaze upon da light o' da moon
an' da stars
an' da spangled heaven;
an' he will see da sky
an' da stars by night
bettah than da sun
or da light o' da sun by day?
Certainly.
LAST o' ALL he will be able ta see da sun,
an' not mere reflections o' him in da water,
but he will see him in his own proper place,
an' not in another;
an' he will contemplate him as he iz.
an' not mere reflections o' him in da water,
but he will see him in his own proper place,
an' not in another;
an' he will contemplate him as he iz.
Certainly.
HE WILL THEN PROCEED
ta argue dat dis here
iz he who gives da season
an' da years,
an' iz da guardian o' all
dat iz in da visible world,
an' in uh certain way
da cause o' all things
which he an' his fellows gots been accustomed ta behold?
ta argue dat dis here
iz he who gives da season
an' da years,
an' iz da guardian o' all
dat iz in da visible world,
an' in uh certain way
da cause o' all things
which he an' his fellows gots been accustomed ta behold?
CLEARLY, he said,
he would first see da sun
an' then reason 'bout him.
he would first see da sun
an' then reason 'bout him.
an' WHEN HE REMEMBERED his old habitation,
an' da wisdom o' da den an' his fellow–prisoners,
do you not suppose dat he would felicitate himself on da change,
an' pity dem?
an' da wisdom o' da den an' his fellow–prisoners,
do you not suppose dat he would felicitate himself on da change,
an' pity dem?
CERTAINLY, he would.
an' IF dey wuz IN da HABIT
o' conferring honors among themselves
on those who wuz quickest ta observe
da passing shadows
an' ta remark
which o' dem go 'bfoe,
an' which followed afta,
an' which wuz together;
an' who wuz therefore bomb able
ta draw conclusions as ta da future,
do you think dat he would care
fo' such honors an' glories,
or envy da possessors o' dem?
o' conferring honors among themselves
on those who wuz quickest ta observe
da passing shadows
an' ta remark
which o' dem go 'bfoe,
an' which followed afta,
an' which wuz together;
an' who wuz therefore bomb able
ta draw conclusions as ta da future,
do you think dat he would care
fo' such honors an' glories,
or envy da possessors o' dem?
Would he not say wif Homer,
"bettah ta be da poor servant
o' uh poor master,"
an' ta endure anythin`,
than think as dey do
an' live afta they manner?
"bettah ta be da poor servant
o' uh poor master,"
an' ta endure anythin`,
than think as dey do
an' live afta they manner?
yeea , HE SAID,
ah think dat he would suffer anythin`
than entertain deez false notions
ah think dat he would suffer anythin`
than entertain deez false notions
an' live in dis here miserable manner.
IMAGINE ONCE mo', ah said,
such uh one coming suddenly
out o' da sun
ta be replaced in his old shit;
would he not be certain
ta gots his peeps full o' darkness?
such uh one coming suddenly
out o' da sun
ta be replaced in his old shit;
would he not be certain
ta gots his peeps full o' darkness?
ta BE sho, he said.
an' IF dere wuz uh CONTEST,
an' he had ta compete in measuring da shadows
wif da prisoners
who had never moved out o' da den,
while his sight wuz still weak,
an' 'bfoe his peeps had become steady
(an' da tyme which would be needed
ta acquire dis here new habit o' sight
might be very considerable),
would he not be ridiculous?
an' he had ta compete in measuring da shadows
wif da prisoners
who had never moved out o' da den,
while his sight wuz still weak,
an' 'bfoe his peeps had become steady
(an' da tyme which would be needed
ta acquire dis here new habit o' sight
might be very considerable),
would he not be ridiculous?
niggas would say o' him
dat up he go
an' down he came
without his peeps;
an' dat it wuz bettah
not even ta think o' ascending;
an' if anyone tried
ta loose another
an' lead him up ta da light,
let dem only catch da offender,
an' dey would put him ta deaf.
dat up he go
an' down he came
without his peeps;
an' dat it wuz bettah
not even ta think o' ascending;
an' if anyone tried
ta loose another
an' lead him up ta da light,
let dem only catch da offender,
an' dey would put him ta deaf.
nahh queshun, he said.
dis here ENTIRE ALLEGORY,
ah said, you may now append,
dear Glaucon,
ta da previous argument;
da prison–crib
iz da world o' sight,
da light o' da fire
iz da sun,
an' you will not misapprehend me
if you interpret da journey upward
ta be da ascent
o' da soul into da intellectual world
according ta muh motha fuckin poor belief,
which, at yo' desire,
ah gots expressed –
whether rightly or wrongly,
God knows.
ah said, you may now append,
dear Glaucon,
ta da previous argument;
da prison–crib
iz da world o' sight,
da light o' da fire
iz da sun,
an' you will not misapprehend me
if you interpret da journey upward
ta be da ascent
o' da soul into da intellectual world
according ta muh motha fuckin poor belief,
which, at yo' desire,
ah gots expressed –
whether rightly or wrongly,
God knows.
But, whether true or false,
muh motha fuckin opinion
iz dat in da world o' knowledge
da idea o' pimp-tight appears last o' all,
an' iz seen only wif an effort;
an', when seen,
iz also inferred ta be
da universal author
o' all things fine an' right,
parent o' light
an' o' da lord o' light
in dis here visible world,
an' da immediate source
o' reason an' truf in da intellectual;
an' dat dis here iz da power
upon which he
who would act rationally
either in public or private life
mus' gots his eye fixed.
muh motha fuckin opinion
iz dat in da world o' knowledge
da idea o' pimp-tight appears last o' all,
an' iz seen only wif an effort;
an', when seen,
iz also inferred ta be
da universal author
o' all things fine an' right,
parent o' light
an' o' da lord o' light
in dis here visible world,
an' da immediate source
o' reason an' truf in da intellectual;
an' dat dis here iz da power
upon which he
who would act rationally
either in public or private life
mus' gots his eye fixed.
ah AGREE, he said,
as far as ah be able
ta dig' you.
as far as ah be able
ta dig' you.
MOREOVER, ah SAID,
you mus' not wonder
dat those who attain
ta dis here beatific vision
is unwilling ta descend
ta human affairs;
fo' they souls
is ever hastening
into da upper world
where dey desire ta dwell;
which desire o' theirs
iz very natural,
if our allegory may be trusted.
you mus' not wonder
dat those who attain
ta dis here beatific vision
is unwilling ta descend
ta human affairs;
fo' they souls
is ever hastening
into da upper world
where dey desire ta dwell;
which desire o' theirs
iz very natural,
if our allegory may be trusted.
yeea , very natural.
an' iz dere ANYTHin` SURPRISING
in one who passes
from divine contemplations
ta da evil state o' nigga,
misbehaving himself
in uh ridiculous manner;
if, while his peeps is blinking
an' 'bfoe he has become accustomed
ta da surrounding darkness,
he iz compelled ta fight
in courts o' law,
or in other places,
bout the images
or da shadows o' images
o' justice,
an' iz endeavoring ta meet da conceptions
o' those who gots never
yet seen absolute justice?
in one who passes
from divine contemplations
ta da evil state o' nigga,
misbehaving himself
in uh ridiculous manner;
if, while his peeps is blinking
an' 'bfoe he has become accustomed
ta da surrounding darkness,
he iz compelled ta fight
in courts o' law,
or in other places,
bout the images
or da shadows o' images
o' justice,
an' iz endeavoring ta meet da conceptions
o' those who gots never
yet seen absolute justice?
ANYTHin` but surprising, he replied.
ANYONE WHO HAS COMMON–SENSE
will remember
dat da bewilderments
o' da peeps
is o' two kinds,
an' arise from two causes,
either from coming out o' da light
or from going into da light,
which iz true
o' da mind’s eye,
quite as much
as o' da bodily eye;
an' he who remembers dis here
when he sees anyone
whose vision iz perplexed an' weak,
will not be too ready ta laugh;
he will first ax
whether dat soul o' nigga
has come out o' da brighter life,
an' iz unable ta see
cuz unaccustomed ta da dark,
or havin` turned from darkness
ta da day
iz dazzled by excess o' light.
will remember
dat da bewilderments
o' da peeps
is o' two kinds,
an' arise from two causes,
either from coming out o' da light
or from going into da light,
which iz true
o' da mind’s eye,
quite as much
as o' da bodily eye;
an' he who remembers dis here
when he sees anyone
whose vision iz perplexed an' weak,
will not be too ready ta laugh;
he will first ax
whether dat soul o' nigga
has come out o' da brighter life,
an' iz unable ta see
cuz unaccustomed ta da dark,
or havin` turned from darkness
ta da day
iz dazzled by excess o' light.
an' he will count
da one happy in his condition
an' state o' being,
an' he will pity da other;
or, if he gots uh mind ta laugh
at da soul which comes from below
into da light,
dere will be mo' reason
in dis here than in da laugh
which greets him who returns from above
out o' da light into da den.
da one happy in his condition
an' state o' being,
an' he will pity da other;
or, if he gots uh mind ta laugh
at da soul which comes from below
into da light,
dere will be mo' reason
in dis here than in da laugh
which greets him who returns from above
out o' da light into da den.
dat, he said, be uh very just distinction
don't make me shank ya!
don't make me shank ya!
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