The Philosophers’ Meal – A Poem

Can you imagine the conversation at this dinner table? Well, I tried to.

Another in my ekphrastic poetry series. My of my ekphrastic poetry here. More on free verse here.

The Enlightenment

At the Thursday night dinner of philosophers,
it was Voltaire, Innkeeper of Europe,
(self-dubbed)
who raised his hand
to quiet the debate between
le père Adam, Laharpe,
l’abbé Maurice, Condorcet
Diderot and d’Alembert
regarding the nature of truth and tolerance;
separation of church and state;
how man’s happiness equates
to progress in science and arts;
and how reason should trump
religious and political dictates …
to ask for seconds.

©elsp2025