I wrote the following poem about truth called Parrhesia.

 

How do you really feel?
Will you tell the truth,
even if it hurts?

Lying is not an evil
if no one is hurt but yourself.

Will you say it out?
Call it out?
Express what you know
to be true?
Authentic?
Loud, so nothing is missed?

Or hide in the lines set
in systems of convenient truth.
After all, what is to be gained
when so much can be taken away ?

Tell yourself this over and over
till you are convinced.
Tell yourself that no one will believe
you and you are cursed.

Perhaps there will come this day
when the truth bubbles forth as
declaration and you say what you
know even if to deaf ears
and turned faces
and those who want to
pay you away.

 

I then put it into ChatGPT without even a prompt.

Here is what it produced:

ChatGPT commnetry on the poem

The poem “Parrhesia” delves into the concept of free speech and the moral courage it takes to speak the truth, especially when such truths are inconvenient or potentially harmful to oneself. “Parrhesia” is a term from ancient Greek philosophy that refers to the act of speaking candidly or asking forgiveness for speaking openly and honestly. The poem explores the internal conflict and external pressures that influence one’s decision to speak or remain silent.

The opening lines pose direct questions to the reader, challenging them to consider their own willingness to speak the truth, even when it may lead to personal harm or discomfort. This sets the tone for a meditation on the nature of truth-telling and its consequences. The poem suggests that lying is not inherently evil, especially when the only person harmed by the lie is oneself. This perspective introduces a moral ambiguity into the act of speaking or withholding the truth, implying that the decision is not always clear-cut.

As the poem progresses, it confronts the societal and systemic pressures that often discourage parrhesia. It speaks of “systems of convenient truth” where speaking out can lead to loss or retribution. The poem captures the human tendency to rationalize silence, to convince oneself that speaking up is futile or that one’s voice won’t be believed. This is a reflection of the fear and resignation that can suffocate the impulse to speak honestly.

Yet, despite these pressures, the poem holds out hope for a moment of declaration, a breaking point where the truth “bubbles forth.” This is not presented as an easy or triumphant moment. The speaker acknowledges that such declarations are often met with indifference or hostility — “deaf ears and turned faces.” However, the act of speaking out is depicted as a powerful, almost inevitable release, an assertion of one’s inner reality that is valuable regardless of its reception.

“Parrhesia” ultimately is a contemplation of the personal and societal dynamics of truth-telling. It weighs the cost of honesty against the burden of silence, acknowledging the complex interplay of fear, self-deception, and the deep-seated human need to express one’s truth. The poem doesn’t provide easy answers but instead invites reflection on the price and value of our words in a world that often incentivizes silence.