All Our Winding Ways

                                                                                                Light the Light ~ Philip Brent Harris

~~~~~

What are the ways
We navigate life?
Paths we follow;
What we choose,
Life chooses for us.
Locked in
Sterile cubicles.
No matter
How, how much
We strive
To create,
Make them ours.

Locked in
To desks,
To dos and don’ts,
Our duties.
Trapped in cells,
Apps, smart phones,
Toys and  gadgets,
Budgets, burdens,
Balls and chains.
Can we ever
Escape, wing away?
How many
Ever even try?

Or the oligarchs,
Hierophants, monarchs,
Theocrats, technocrats,
Wealthy, untouchable,
Believing so.
Holding court
In and from
Their thrones,
Plush leather chairs,
100^th floor,
Million-dollar views.
So high they
Cannot recognize
Moving bugs
So far below,
As humans.
Worthy,
Not only
To be
Recognized,
But also
Embraced, protected.

Bureaucrats,
Sycophants,
Holding space
Between wage-slaves,
Their masters,
In the belief
They control
Above and below.
Holding all
The strings and sticks,
Unseen puppeteers
Manipulating
Marionettes and Muppets.
Blinded by
Misperceived anonymity,
Uncertain certainty

They will be
Pulled up short,
A short, sharp shock.
Pulled down,
Trampled
Beneath feet,
Poorly shod,
Ancient,
Shoes, boots,
Designer knockoffs,
Worn leather,
Broken heels.
Those who climb,
Reaching for those
Who control all,
The world entire,
Without participation.
Children playing
With their toys:
Soldiers, ships,
Planes, rockets,
Guns, grenades, germs,
Missiles, mayhem,
Money and power.
Viral victory mere illusion,
When we are
Called home.

People who wander,
Seemingly lost,
Misplaced,
Homeless, forsaken,
Women, men,
Our children.
Mad prophets
Of mad profits,
Fisher kings,
Cat ladies,
Seers and oracles.
Speakers
For the living,
Speakers
For the dead.
Lost by accident,
By choice,
To remove masks
Worn by all,
Yet not acknowledged.
Neglected,
At greatest need,
Aided when
No help
Is required.

I believe
We are All
This and more.
Whether
Bard or beggar,
Laborer or lost,
King or fool,
Each and all,
Wear their face,
Begin and end
The same place.
Bawling babes,
Young or aged,
Hale or ailing,
All inhale
One last breath,
Feel our final
Heartbeat.
None better,
None worse.
How
We act,
How
Well or whether
We survive
Are not questions,
Only choices,,
Paths taken
As we wend
And walk
All our winding ways.

~~~~~

Peace is Purpose, Nonviolence is Strength, Diversity is Unity, Empathy is Empowerment

~~~~~

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