They do not hear because they will not hear,
In magic circles, tight with blinders on,
Their mantras dull and worn, all meaning gone,
Their words a fog that covers up their fear.
They do not think because they will not think;
Abuse and venom: cavil, mock and spurn;
They hammer demon images to burn,
And creep in craven huddles to the brink.
They work like slaves to bring unending night;
When all are blind, then no one needs his eyes,
When all are chained, then no one needs to rise,
When all submit, then no one needs to fight.
Who does not shudder in the gloaming time?
The candle spits and sputters, small and low,
The candle-makers gave up long ago;
The darkness is an end, a goal, a crime.
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9 comments:
Good stuff.
Myrhaf,
You're brilliant! I cannot recall ever reading conservative poetry, but I think you may have created an art form.
I have not written poetry in about 20 years, but you have me thinking about taking it up again.
Thanks to you both. Good luck with your efforts, Ed.
It's a minor point, but I wouldn't call my poetry conservative because I'm not a conservative. I don't believe in God, I support the right to abortion and gay marriage, etc. Maybe G.K. Chesterton and T.S. Eliot wrote conservative poetry, but even with them there are probably better terms.
Would you prefer libertarian? It definitely ain't liberal.
When I said conservative, I was referring to conservatism in a broader sense, not just religious conservatism, about which you and I would probably agree (with the exception of gay marriage, but I won't go into that here).
No, I like libertarian even less. If nothing else, their reaction to the war against Islamic fundamentalism shows libertarianism is wrong. When they are consistent, libertarians are anarchists like Murray Rothbard.
You are certainly correct that the poem is not liberal, and I congratulate you for noticing that.
Ayn Rand called herself a radical for capitalism; that's a good name, though unwieldy when applied to poetry.
Conservatism in the broader sense died in 1964. Since the rise of Reagan religion has been an essential element of conservatism. There are free market, atheistic right-wingers, but I don't consider them conservative.
I will grant you that libertarians do seem to be split on the GWOT, but there are some, like Neal Boortz, who are fully supportive of it.
This begs the question: Is there a politician anywhere or any time who best represents your political views?
Let's see, my senators are Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein... no, not them...
Seriously, most politicians today are a mixed bag. I liked a lot of what Dick Armey used to say. Joe Scarbourough, who is no longer a politician, makes sense a lot. Generally, the more free market and socially liberal Republicans I like the most. I do not like the anti-immigration Republicans like Tancredo.
Thanks, Brian. Myrhaf is a character in a viking novel that I plotted but have not written.
I have to agree with you about Dick Armey.
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