The Hinterland

Democracy devolves into tyranny, Plato cautioned.
Flooded by the frigid torrent of factionalism,
will we certify his prediction?

Blinded by the prevarication of public discourse.
Numbed by the inundation of disinformation.
Crippled by the conspiracy of doubt.
The real deep state festers in our cortex,
a place where the charlatans of fallacy 
invade,
a dwelling where terrorists of mind 
take control.

But the terrain before us is vast.
The dense forest and effulgent meadows ahead are unmapped,
musky, fructuous forest floor perfumes the breeze,
The scarlet skyline of the dewy untrodden beckons us. 
Abundant life is our rehearsal.
Can we honestly say we know for what?

Yet, such rapture is eloquent in our dreams.
Such reverie will arrest the parsing of our quintessence.
Our distortions are lifted when we are united
in communitarian struggle.


Published Online 4/2021: The Opiate Magazine
Also scheduled for print publication: summer, 2021
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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Carmack Avatar
September 4, 2021 at 3:34 PM
I appreciate the whole poem, but especially that second stanza.
Wells Avatar
September 5, 2021 at 10:34 PM
Yes, the second stanza! Interesting you mention it. As I recall, the thought served as a genesis for the poem in many respects. Thank you for the great feedback! -Thomas
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