20150901 (renaissance man)

It was easier to be a Renaissance man

During the Renaissance when there wasn’t

As much to know especially math

Science history knowledge of the 

Classical Romans and Greeks filled in

What would have been allocated to

Anthropology Zoology parts in between

A guy could dash off a trifle 

In dactylic hexameter about the ways 

Of the gods nobles without interruption

In the time he would have spent 

Texting his loved ones or checking 

Facebook Salon Al Jazeera Huff Post

Except for those times when you’d grab

A sword to restore a balance of power

Among competing Venetian doges 

You have time to concentrate pen

An adagio for violas paint a chapel

Ceiling while coining clever couplets

Skewering the Pope and his courtesans

You could get a good job at any good

University no entrance exams no SATs

Just control your tongue around the prince

His fellows the same with his maidens

Try to stay healthy lots of fruits veggies

You don’t want to have gout no matter

How it’s the sign of noble breeding

Fencing will save you keep your waist

Trim vital when the rapier’s thrust misses 

By an eence you live to fight another day

As always it will help to be well-born

Or claim the fortune of a rapacious brigand

You’ll not be traveling on gallant steeds

Buying up art in the Orient on a serf’s

Daily allotment of mead and mutton 

The cost of keeping all the accordion

Collars pressed and starched would

Break a squire’s budget you’ll need

A camica doublet short kiltlike skirt

Hose better tights a dressy embroidered 

Jacket with long flowing sleeves 

To your knees the pointy shoes are so

Fifteenth century eat well grow strong

You’ll need to sashay about in all this

With a heavy necklace and still be able 

To unsheathe your blade without falling 

It takes practice stride don’t walk 

As due your bearing close the door

When you leave with a resounding bump

Or when you knock to enter with the butt

Of your dagger strike a comparable thump

Just don’t hit on the prince’s main squeeze

Stick with the ladies in waiting you don’t

Want to complicate life if you’re doing 

This at all right they’ll be falling 

All over you decked out in fashion 

Should they doubt say something in French 

Merd followed by some Italian command 

Mangia mangia and when you

 

Tell them about how the earth is not

Flat they’ll be lapping it up you’re

So learned they’ll sweetly exhale

What a romantic well rounded scholar they’ll coo 

You’ll get Renaissance Man

About four hundred years

After you’re dead

c. J.S.Manista, 2015