Sun-dials in the shade (poem) by rite on AuthorsDen

Sun-dials in the shade
by rite → (All Poetry by rite)
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"It is perfectly possible for a man to be out of prison, and yet not free - to be under no physical constraint and yet to be a psychological captive, compelled to think, feel and act as the representatives of the national state, or of some private interest within the nation, wants him to think, feel and act. "The nature of psychological compulsion is such that those who act under constraint remain under the impression that they are acting on their own initiative. The victim of mind-manipulation does not know that he is a victim. To him the walls of his prison are invisible, and he believes himself to be free. That he is not free is apparent only to other people. His servitude is strictly objective." Brave New World Revisited, Aldous Huxley, 1958

This free and rich world we live in That we built with our own hands The work we have been active in Choosing to fulfill public demands Returns to us the liberty we have The prized gift many never knew It�s the tasty food hiding the gaff We guzzle not bothering to chew Hooked on life that made us free While billions others ail in misery You can tour anywhere you please Any time, any place, by any means Autonomy makes you feel at ease You�ve visited many superb scenes Nothing stops you from moving free And from doing that what you want You�ll not believe you�re a detainee For you never perceived the taunt Of the warden of your private prison Never gave notion to issues arisen Choose who to believe and support With caution using your learned wit Trust solely official news and report From authorized source that is legit They may have plunged you in war Or given you laws without justice But also foes you can safely abhor And lots of stories dreadfully amiss The unwise claiming they warn you Are fools who just aim to scorn you Those paranoid minds conjure lies Based on fancy and unproven fact And the way in which they analyze Is nothing but an irresponsible act That you best not pay attention to For what religion and science say Is so much more safe to listen to Just research, calculate and pray Work, spend and pay your dues Trust ABC, CBS, and NBC news * * * * * * How easy it is to make you believe That you�re self-governing and free It does not require much to deceive The poor, common and bourgeoisie Prisons without physical constraint Saver than maximum security jails Keeping untrialed man in restraint In a perfect system that never fails Detained for sins never committed Slaves obliged for being submitted The images of the rainbows you see Are photographs in black and white Newspapers, internet, radio and TV Disclose much less than they hide The charity you generously donate The knowledge you feed the young Are just like sun-dials in the shade Meaningless words in alien tongue The prison you live in is your mind An incarceration of a different kind

Reviewed by Judy Meeker

Reviewed on December 10, 2006

I always find your writing interesting. It gives food for thought. Your work is not in vain.
Judy Meeker

Reviewed by Tinka Boukes

Reviewed on November 26, 2006

Your last stanza says it all...we live in a false bravade...believing what makes us feel good....and rather not the things that truly ARE good for us!!

love Tinka

Reviewed by Jennifer Butler (Reader)

Reviewed on November 25, 2006

The thought that sets me free is that each hour spent at toil is the hour when my husband made this toy for the children, or built that part of the house, or grew our dinner and then sold it at the store, as each hour spent in toil at his trade, he spends trading with Santa's other happy elves.