humankind is capable
of great harm––
individually &
collectively.
we comfortably imagine
ourselves good…
very good.
but then,
the reflex,
the desire, the curiosity
to maim.
where do our children
learn to lie &
manipulate?
many lifetimes of
bad karma.
of the last century,
many wonder
how/why the highly
cultured germans &
the deeply sensitive
japanese could rise up
in horrifing military
power & …
lost generations of
stinking dead––
lost generations of
stinking guilt &
nightmares.
amerikans have
enjoyed the greatest
wealth in the history
of this world.
they are sick with
power.
they claim to love
democracy & the
rule of law––
their President
lies for them.
every day their brutality
expresses itself
in camouflaged uniform
behind protective kevlar
shields.
every day we extend
a war of our own terrible
making. we surge against
our own nobility––
creating evermore enemies
out of our implacable
pride.
history will judge us
mad.
like all fundamentalist
people, self-justification
is our means of thought & our
religion.
blessed be the smug––
& the smugness
all.
amen.