dealing the continuum


humanity steps out into a continuum
of inquiry . . . why . . . why . . . why
individuals stand back
hands saluting shock
a paralysis of conception
from point A to point B
shuffleling, digging our heals in dirt
in righteous affirmation
never me
never me

the wisdom of the simple
lies stoned along the highway
or lynched in mockery above the heads our children
rising above the flames of indignation
the angry mob shouts . . . never me. . . never me

but
we are
what we say
we are not

we are the inheritance
we remain infected
dressing fatal flaws with white gauze
we gather stones at our back
waiting
but massage the flaw
wake its desire
we take aim, as the stones grow hot in our hands

and
we remain
what we say
we are not
until we listen
to the hush

the stampeding of why lies hushed on the table
the dealer weeps at our inane stupidity
it’s all in the deck of cards that we deal
it’s all in the hand that we play
it's in the falling of the stones

Ignorance is our bottom card,
dressed in a suite of Fear.
The Princely Greed embraces that Ignorance,
tightening the robes of Fear.
Sounding a call for justice, Lordly Violence trumps Greed,
and we hail his reason, bowing down to his rule.
And now the path is beaten and laid before the Queen,
and we suckle at her bosom of Hatred,
pacified by the heat of her milk,
as she groans in unnatural labor from her royal crown,
the birthing of Inhumanity.
The Ace of many colors.

it’s in the deck of cards that we deal
it’s in this game that we play
over and over in the continuum of chasing our tails
wailing as we devour our sanity
raising our fists as we sanctify our rights
with the blood of the inevitable
and the casting of the stones

we are blind
to what we say
we are not
until we listen
to our silence


jeanne rene 5/05