we singular human beings
are not by nature
reasonable, clean or
civilized
as a family we
can be as transcendent
as angels or truculent
as demons
for one brief shining moment
the greeks breathed in
democracy
lost for centuries until
enlightened minds
inspired us to act
with reason & dream
with freedom
our reasonable actions
blessed us with
science, health,
food & enough
well-being to bring
all people to
good––
with wisdom, compassion
& tolerance in our
reach––
the rich got awfully
richer & fancied
owning & controlling
all there is
they thrived on
selfishness &
greed
we released our grasp
of reason &
obsessed
our minds with
worry––
how can i succeed
beyond all others?
how can i take
all i deserve for my
self?
the force of reason
failed & ego
triumphed
democracy became
impossible
as the climate crashed
down
our planet is so
fine & so fragile
& the dimensions
of our possibilities
are as wide as
heaven––
yet heaven will
not save us––
we need to re-
learn caring & clasp
each other’s hands
to save ourselves––
to save our
world