A statue of Alexander the Great in Greece.‘To the Class of 2018’ and Other Poetry by Benjamin Daniel Lukey The Society August 21, 2018 Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Readings 11 Comments https://classicalpoets.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Exodos-Apology-SCP.mp3 Exodos, Prologos to the Class of 2018 In times uncertain, ask your truest friends For counsel, and take all they say to heart— But know that we are bound for different ends, And none but you can learn and play your part. Some friend may say, “To thine own self be true,” But “thine own self” is not a thing of stone. And who can say what time will do to you? Reflect, and you will see how you have grown And changed, from year to year and day to day, In ways, perhaps, that only you can see; We’ve gathered here to send you on your way, And only you can say what that will be. Be hungry for whatever lies in store, And make it greater than what came before. Apology to an Old Friend I swore I’d keep in touch with you— I crossed my heart and hoped to die. I meant it, so it was no lie, But as you know, it wasn’t true. Benjamin Daniel Lukey was born in 1986. He has lived all over the Eastern United States and currently resides near Charlotte, North Carolina. He teaches high school English classes whenever he is not fishing or writing poetry. His work has previously appeared in Edify Fiction and The Mystic Blue Review. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Trending now: 11 Responses Joe Tessitore August 21, 2018 Beautiful work – well done! Reply Connor Rosemond August 21, 2018 “Exodos, Prologos” is an excellent read, but it was even better to hear in person. Great work, Mr. Lukey! Reply Amy Foreman August 21, 2018 I enjoyed reading both of these, Mr. Lukey. Thanks for sharing them with us! Reply One of the many Joes in the society August 21, 2018 I love that apology! Reply David Paul Behrens August 21, 2018 Excellent graduation sonnet. Nice job. Reply Dave Whippman August 21, 2018 “Apology to an Old Friend” says a lot in a few words. Reply C.B. Anderson August 21, 2018 BDL, Petronius had no better avuncular counsel for Laertes. The poem was formally precise throughout, without demerits. You’ve mastered the form and you should now feel free to introduce substitutions and variations to your metrical baseline. Reply Wilude Scabere August 23, 2018 Do you mean Petronius, that is, Gaius Petronius Arbiter, who Tacitus called an “accomplished voluptuary” and “elegantiae arbiter” in the court of Nero, or the character Polonius, Laertes’ father and counselor to King Claudius in Hamlet? Reply Lenore Arnow August 21, 2018 I enjoyed reading these well written clever poems! Reply David Watt August 23, 2018 “Exodos, Prologos” is smooth throughout and excellent to read. Reply Richie Mrugalski November 20, 2018 Mr. Lukey, you make me so happy your so inspirational. I look up to as a role model. Thank you for everything and your amazing poems. – Richie Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Connor Rosemond August 21, 2018 “Exodos, Prologos” is an excellent read, but it was even better to hear in person. Great work, Mr. Lukey! Reply
Amy Foreman August 21, 2018 I enjoyed reading both of these, Mr. Lukey. Thanks for sharing them with us! Reply
C.B. Anderson August 21, 2018 BDL, Petronius had no better avuncular counsel for Laertes. The poem was formally precise throughout, without demerits. You’ve mastered the form and you should now feel free to introduce substitutions and variations to your metrical baseline. Reply
Wilude Scabere August 23, 2018 Do you mean Petronius, that is, Gaius Petronius Arbiter, who Tacitus called an “accomplished voluptuary” and “elegantiae arbiter” in the court of Nero, or the character Polonius, Laertes’ father and counselor to King Claudius in Hamlet? Reply
Richie Mrugalski November 20, 2018 Mr. Lukey, you make me so happy your so inspirational. I look up to as a role model. Thank you for everything and your amazing poems. – Richie Reply