The Meeting of the Stoic and Romantic – A Poem

The stoic spoke to the romantic
As they crossed paths in the Roman Forum.
“How can you be so weak, so feeble, so helpless?
Have you no shame to show the world your heart, to wear emotion on your face?
Have you no fear, no understanding of the human race?
Surely, you’ll be taken advantage of
And this foolish notion you call love
Is nothing but an illusion.
The solution to life lies in the mind, not the heart.
Don’t weep when the world swallows you whole and tears you apart.
You’ll have no one to blame but yourself.
Can’t you be more like I
And pass the cruelty of the world by without batting an eye?
I am strong, in control, composed.
My fate is in my own hands.
I control my destiny and refuse to bow before any woman or man.
Scatter along now, and put that heart back where it belongs.
Chest out, chin up. Do at least pretend to be strong.”

The romantic did not cast his eyes down in shame,
But a fire of passion ignited on his face
And a smirk delighted in the flames.
“Ah, you may think I’m weak, feeble and without poise.
But I tell you without a doubt
That I’m stronger than mountains because I have a voice.
It is you, my friend, who is the weaker one.
For where I have joy, you have none.
It is true that my heart waivers from hot to cold.
But tell me, what will you have to hold onto
As your days pass and you grow old?
I trust in more than myself, for two is greater than one.
Independence is but a charade for the coward who hides and runs.
I choose to feel. I choose life.
Can a man who feels nothing at all even be considered alive?
My tear drops may fall. I may be called a fool to forgive.
But my scars are not weaknesses, but proof that I’ve lived.
I’ll go on loving without fear, for it’s the world’s most powerful fire –
Powerful enough to even topple this entire Roman Empire.”

At this the stoic balked.
What stupidity to think that love could withstand such force.
He chuckled and walked away.
But in the city of Jerusalem history was changing course –
A man named Jesus was being laid in a grave.

– Poem written by Justin Farley