ohwellian state

||

a road with two lanes
one east
one west
is bumper to bumper
in traffic

and moving
rather slowly

a car in the lane going west
needs to turn left
but the traffic
on the lane going east
will not let up

a car pauses
and motions to the turning car
to go ahead and cross the opposing lane

the car does so

and the world
carries on......

a day consists
of thoughtless choices

for the most part

why did five other cars
drive past the car
wanting to turn?

what made one car stop
and let the other car turn?

did the fact that three previous cars
refused to let the turning car turn
subconsciously influence the decision
of the fourth car?

did the previous car's refusal
likewise influence the decision
of the car who paused?

and what about
all the cars behind the car that paused?

what would they have done?

could the pause
to let the turning car turn
have impacted the cars
behind the stopped car
in ways unfathomable?

i watched a car
speed in front of me today
to shortly after
barely avoid a side collision
with a distracted driver

one could argue
that his aggression
pushed him so close
to harm

or one could also argue
that the passivity
of every car he flew around
was the true culprit

or was it maybe the call he received
three minutes prior
to tend to an emergency at work?

or could it have been
the fault
of the distracted driver
entirely
that the whole incident
had to occur?

but the construction
surely
had to have some influence
on the incident

or the way
the car driver's wife's sister's husband
became enraged quickly
at dinner
the evening prior

but that was
his father's curse
to him

as he says

right?

his father
may have said
much the same

CAUSE
INTENTION
EFFECT
GUILT or CONVICTION

repeating

a
day
consists
of
thoughtless
choices

 

THE LAW OF RECIPROCITY

a religious devotee gives you a flower
at the airport
while you are running
from terminal to terminal

a heartbroken teenager
says to anyone who will listen
that he would give up
a laundry list
of possessions
to get her back

a promotional mailer
you receive
has a shiny new penny
taped to the front of the letter
advertising a low cost subscription
to an auto magazine

in social psychology
the law of reciprocity
describes the subconscious urge
to do kindly to someone
who was kind to you

and to give something of yourself
when someone does the same
of themselves

the little flower
for a moment of time

the stereo system
for the lost love

the shiny penny
for the magazine subscription

the law of reciprocity
delegates the kabuki dance

but the mind rarely questions
the fairness of it all

is the stereo system
of the same value
as the lost love?

is the shiny penny
a kind enough gesture
to inspire someone
into subscribing to a yearly subscription?

is the little flower
worth three minutes
of time between flights
listening to a religious devotee?

apparently so

as these are not rare occurrences
but a commonality
in the daily exchange
of energy

but

what is fair?

is it situational?

would a fake coin suffice
for the magazine subscription?

would a maple leaf
be a suitable equivalent to the flower?

would the angsty teenager
be willing to give up
his computer
rather than his stereo system
to some etheric arbitrator
for the love of his time?

what is the capuchin monkey's
opinion
concerning cucumbers and grapes?

 

the old man
smiled
as though
his happiness
brought out an equal part
of dissatisfaction

he spoke
with a stern
forward
demeanor

"that is your fragility

henry

you fight against
all that is
with little defensive recourse

and even less
strategy

your strength

henry

is your weakness

it is hardly clever
for a man
to base a fortune

on a lie

that will haunt
the ground
it was stricken to
for as long
as men shall bear curiosity

but to this
sad recollection

i have
a final question
of you
to answer

henry

what intentions
did you have
for the moment
in time
when a villager
would discover
your tale
to be
a feeble hoax"

mr. henry the strongman
grasped at his neck

as his face reddened
with anger

he struggled
now
with his own thoughts

as even they
could no longer
be trusted

but just as
the strongman
clenched his jaw
to prevent a new montage
of honesty

the words
fell from
his mouth

"i would have
defeated such a man
under the same circumstances
of which i had defeated
the monster"

mr. henry felt a sudden pain
radiate from his lower back

he noted the route
of the internal fire
as it raced toward
his fingertips

he could not fight
this horrid sensation

the strongman observed
as his body betrayed
his mind

the pain
caused the strongman
to convolute his posture

his back hunched forward

his legs turned outward

and his feet
each could not
remain level
at the same time

mr. henry
felt now
as his mind
was pulling itself inward
to a central point

a central thought

he struggled to focus
on the well dressed man
who stood observing
the entire situation

the man spoke
again
to mr. henry

"as your mind
pieces together
who i am

i will leave you
with a plan
of survival

henry

as you
awaken

you will find yourself
in a form
that is both familiar
and contrary

the men
in cloaks
by which
you were directed
here
are in place
to do
just so

i will no longer
be upon this roof

and you will
have only
the memory
of the sweetness of the wine
you had tasted

that aided in your transformation

and the bitterness
of the gold
you had accumulated

the name
you will
answer to
is TRUTH

as the truth
is all
you will know

and therefore

it is all
you
shall
speak

as you can see

henry

all you have thought
and all you have done

have been both pondered
and enacted
many times
prior to your belief
that it was novel"

the strongman
fell to his knees
and clenched
a crooked fist
driving it
straight to the ground

he shouted
to the old man

"i know now
who you are

you unholy magician

you led me
to become this"

the old man replied
in a manner
of utter disregard

"yes

TRUTH

but your nature
compelled you
to walk the path
i had paved
before you

you will grow
to understand

that i exist
because you exist

as if there
were no more
monsters

then surely

TRUTH

could never be
banished
to the forest

i could not stand
with the authority
to do such
an action

i would
be no longer
an old man
but a new ghost"

mr. henry
or what had remained
of the strongman

faded quite abruptly
into a dark stupor

as the strongman awoke
he found himself alone
on a roof
he could barely recall

he looked to his hands
and his limbs

they were roughened
and bony

as were the extremities
of the monster
he had once slayed

the monster
of a strongman
stood upright
and lumbered
down the ladder
to the floor
of a home
he felt unknown to

he thrashed through
the heavy crates
that blocked the entry way

and swung himself
toward the forest

to his right
and to his left

he saw onlookers

pointing

shrieking

some drew close

while others fled
with the fear
of certain demise

the monster
knew
he must retreat
to the forest

as only the forest

can shelter
a monster

villagers
some yielding blunt objects
from farmyards

pursued the monster
slowed by an obtuse posture
as he humbled himself
to the forest

but as the villagers
came near

the men
who draped themselves
in colorful cloaks

frightened the mobs
with their knowledge
of minerals
and fire

as the monster
neared the edge
of the forest

he observed
to his side
a young child
who wore
the attire of a strongman

the child called out
to the monster

"you monster

i will defeat you

for mr. henry the strongman"

but before
the child
could play warrior

the monster spoke

"my child
you will never defeat
the monster
if you defeat me

for to defeat
the monster

you see as such

but that does not
act as such

is to defeat
that of which
protects you
from such"

TRUTH
abated to a small figure
among the ancient trees

he withdrew from
the view
of the villagers
who now
beckoned to the magicians
for protection
against
the monster
they were convinced
was merely
a manageable threat

 

mr. henry
melted to the floor
as if
overpowered
by extreme heat

the old man spoke

"henry
i have walked
from the other side
of the village

my legs are tired
and weak

my body does cower
before the thought
of the physical

do not refuse
the kindness
of a very old man

henry"

the manner
by which
the old man spoke

how he pronounced
each syllable

how he gave vigor
and definition
to each sound
that escaped his mouth

his energy
battled
his age

mr. henry the strongman
could not resist
the old man's generosity

but simultaneously

he could not
trust
a perfected stranger
whose every word
and every action
was contradicted
by the other

but with all considered

mr. henry
reached for the vessel
of wine

his trembling hands
gripped to the vessel
with just enough strength
to keep the contents
from spilling

but with just enough grace
to prevent the vessel
from shattering

mr. henry the strongman
emptied the glass
with the perceived thirst
of a man
who had
never before
consumed
a liquid
other than
water

though the initial aroma
and flavor
of the wine
was harsh and bitter

mr. henry found
the liquid
to be the most pleasing
he had ever tasted

should have the circumstances
been different
mr. henry
would have asked
the old man
for a second vessel
of the peculiar wine

the old man
responded
to the wandering mind
of the strongman

"the wine

it was the sweetest
you have ever tasted

henry

the memory
of the experience

however brief
it was

will never leave
the company
of your mind

henry

i ask of you
one truth

it is the reason
of my coming here

i ask you

henry

did you defeat
the monster
of the ancient forest"

mr. henry
felt the strength of the hammer
as it landed
with the force
of the swing

the strongman's face
became pale

his limbs
and shoulders
narrowed to his sides

he felt the shame
the truth
would provide to him

but as mr. henry

raced through
possibility after possibility
in his mind

the old man
waited with patience
upon the last syllable
he spoke

he waited
as if he had
no qualms with time

mr. henry the strongman
made the decision
to lie to the old man

he knew
from the depth
of his being
that the old man
would recognize the lie
as a lie

but something
of the old man's expression

put mr. henry
at an uncomfortable ease
to say as he wished
to say

the strongman
formed the sentence
of which he would speak

first
within his head

but as he manifested
the thoughts
into spoken words

he noticed the words
he spoke
were not of the same nature
as were his thoughts

mr. henry replied
to the old man

"yes
i have defeated
the monster
of the ancient forest"

 

mr. henry the strongman
made his way
to the forest's edge

as he does
so often
every morning

the villagers
both the affluent
and the fearful
awaited his arrival

but mr. henry
did not greet
the crowd
as he had
so often before

he did not smile
or wave
or pat the shoulders
of the men most eager to pay

he treated his collection
of the gold
as a chore

the gold
was his disguise

he thought

as he observed the gold
go from the hands
of the crowd
to his own

"how only
if my gold
could be placed
above my head
and melted
by the heat
of one thousand suns
so as to conceal me
and fortify me
from that which
desires to destroy me"

but such a thought
was of a departing nature

mr. henry
dismissed
the vagrant thought
as it had
challenged his strength
and kinetic prowess

he hurried his pace
and collected the coins
with vigor
and an anxious sense
of entitlement

but as mr. henry the strongman
motioned to lead
his band of villagers
into the tangle of ancient trees

a figure
of a man
hidden by a long
and brightly colored cloak
appeared behind
a community well
that marked the earth
no more than
a meander away

mr. henry
beneath his heavy wool garments
and leather armor
struggled to stay vertical

his knees fought
a deep
and rhythmic tremor
that radiated from
his extremities
to his broad shoulders

the sight of the cloaked man
forced mr. henry the strongman
to turn away

but as he turned
he noticed another figure
dressed much the same
standing beside a naked tree
no further than the other
away in distance

twenty four paces south
stood yet another

mr. henry could count
eight in total

all standing
motionless

they expressed themselves
not in words
or in gestures

but by the lack
thereof

mr. henry the strongman
unstrapped his plates of pliable armor
and let fall from his hand
the weighty burlap sack
of gold coins

he called to the heavens above
in a voice that
cracked and howled
as does an autum windstorm

"i am mr. henry
the strongest man
to walk the earth

i will not be defeated

to all that have ears
may it be heard

i will not be defeated"

mr. henry moved
with the expedient carefulness
of a fleeing animal
toward his home

atop the hill

he seldom looked
behind

and at each glance
to the trail before

he made sure
to confirm
that no cloaked men
were following his trajectory

as mr. henry the strongman
barged into his home
no different than would
a boisterous thief
he pushed
all that was heavy
to the front of his doorway

in an effort
to keep away
the men who
surely knew
where the strongman
would hide

mr. henry climbed
a set of winding stairs
that lead to a rooftop balcony

he pulled his heavy body
through the ceiling door
onto the exposed rooftop terrace

but as he situated himself
and evened his breathing
he noticed
directly to the north on the rooftop
the presence of a man

this man
unlike the others

stood
slightly hunched
wearing extravagant clothing
of vibrant purple hues

his frame was emaciated
but not weak

the face of the man
was worn
tired
archaic

it was a face
that no man
could be dishonest
in the company of

it was sharp
and jagged
as is a trap

but unassuming
to a mind
that beckons reassurance

the body of the man
was adorned
with impressive jewelry

rubies and amulets
of such opulence and splendor
that mr. henry
could not comprehend
the majesty of the treasure
that loomed before his eyes

mr. henry the strongman
remained motionless
in fear and confusion

the old man
took advantage
of his stillness
and walked forward

the old man

thin and unsubstantiated

walked with the pride
of a victorious army
returning from battle

and with the certainty
of a master archer
picking up his favorite bow

in the right hand
of the old man
was a glass
of what could only be wine

the old man
paused before
the strongman
and offered to him
the glass of wine

he spoke with
the voice
a mind projects
as it reads
an ancient scroll
of wisdom and power

"henry
shall
we
drink"

 

the light

the fresh light
of a new dawn

awoke the sleeping strongman
and greeted
his reddened eyes
with a blistering
sense
of
nauseating
glory

"i shall
carve my name

today

into the wicked bark
of the great cypress tree
that gives shade
to us all

today

my name shall
become immortal"

mr. henry the strongman
packed a modest rucksack
and walked toward
the passage

where the ancient trees
meet the tailored lawns

to greet the strongman
stood no less than
two dozen
men
women
and children

awaiting their journey

from village to village

from known
to unknowable
unknown

the crowd
was of no particular
type

some were the poor

some were the affluent

some were the inventors

some were the merchants

but all were
of the same desire

all sought to discover

something of which

kept itself unobtainable

to those not
under the sulfuric wing
of the magicians

the crowd cheered
and danced

as mr. henry the strong man
approached

he smiled
waved
and patted the shoulders
of the first men
to pay to him
their gold coins

to the wealthy
among the crowd
a gold coin
was something
to be thrown into a well

it was as acquirable
and as dispensable
as is a plain scroll of papyrus

but to the poor
among the crowd

a gold coin
was almost sacred

a gold coin
represented
tears
spent energy
and above all
begotten time

they carefully placed
each small piece of gold

into the large palms
of mr. henry

while all awaited
to see what
could dazzle the mind

on the other side
of the wooded passage

mr. henry took groups
of villagers
back and forth

and
back

and
forth

for many days

collecting his gold
from the hands
of the poor and wealthy

some of the wealthy men
would give to mr. henry
two gold coins
on the advice
that he make the passage
as frightening as possible

to give them
their effort's worth

as if their fear
of being torn limb by limb
by a fearful monster
was less
than their fear
of making an unwise
investment

and some
gave to mr. henry

exotic souvenirs
of their travels
to the villages
outside the forest

pottery
ceremonial masks
artwork

mr. henry
was quickly absorbed
into the class
of men
he desired
to mingle with

he had no longer
in his mouth
the taste of poverty

instead
now
his nostrils
syphoned through
aromas of
grapes
vinegars
leathers
inks
perfumes

and all else
that glorifies
the body

mr. henry enjoyed everything
that gold and affluence
had gifted to him

but mr. henry the strongman
could feel
a heaviness
upon his shoulders

it was not a matter of conscience
nor was it
a matter of regret

it was a weight
that comes
before
a heavier weight
does strike

it was the sweeping
of the hammer
as it swings through
the air
before it strikes
the metal spike
and drives it
into the timber

this
mr. henry
could feel

he could see
the shadows
of men

peering at him
through the gardens
as dusk encompassed
his villa

the men appeared
clothed
in elegant cloaks

and remained motionless
even as mr. henry
bellowed to them
profanities

mr. henry the strongman
in a fit of pride and aggression

walked out
onto his terrace
and cursed to the men
who acted themselves
naturally in his gardens

he called to the men

"leave my gardens
at once

or i shall myself
banish you
to the forest

i am mr. henry

the strongest man
to ever live

i demand you
to leave
at
once"

the men did just that

but in a manner
that suggested
they were to do so
anyway
on their own accord

at such a time
regardless of mr. herny's words

mr. henry
took no celebration
in this moment

for even he
the man who defeated
the monster of the forest

knew
that men
who could turn away
from battle
with both apathy and arrogance
could only be men
of utmost strength
and farsightedness

 

the crowd
still reveling in their past excitement
cheered just as loudly as before
hardly waiting for mr. henry
to finish his monologue

they greeted him
as the hero he was not

and lifted the strongman high above
the ground

the strongman thought to himself

"it is now
that the myth begins"

as the villagers
set mr. henry down
he again spoke
to the still-wild crowd

"my fellows

i wish not to be celebrated
and taken as helpless
through the streets and hills

i wish only to take to action
for you
all and each

when the sun
of the new day
illuminates the village
in reassuring warmth

so shall i
henry the strongman
take to the forest
and guide safely
all travelers
who wish to pass
from our village
to the next
and back then

this i shall do for you
all and each
upon the first day
of the proceeding weeks
as sure as
clouds do signal the rain
and darkness does signal
the moon"

mr. henry mingled with the crowd
for a brief moment
then slipped away
to the poverty
he had set off
to release himself from

the strongman said aloud
as he walked

"this will mark
my final walk
to these low places

these familiar streets

these filthy passages

they will become
of the same air
as a distant memory

real only in the aether

for tomorrow
the glorious dawn

i will walk
a new path

to the vineyards
on the hill"

as the strongman
crouched beneath
an overtly-modest shelter

he let pass
through his mind
the images
of all the treasure
he would accumulate
with his gold

as pass
ships in the night

the ghostly images
drifted away
before his eyes
leaving him a sweating wreck
enraged
with greed

he clenched a fist
and his face
contorted
in anger

as the images
that passed before him
were just that

images

he would need first
the gold

and with that thought
released the hold of his frustration

mr. henry the strongman
drifted
into
a
light
slumber

 

the edge of the forest neared

mr. henry the strongman
watched the crowd
as they waved and cheered
raising their arms and torches
in celebration

but a celebration
would not occur
for the villagers

mr. henry fell to his knees
before the chanting crowd

he said to them
in a strained voice
adding a theatric drama
to the effort behind his words

"my town fellows
my friends
my family

i am at the mercy
of you
all and each

i set forth
to defeat the monster
who prevents us
from leaving this village

but i have returned to you
my fellows
as a man
who is defeated

i have failed
to clear the path
with my strength and will

but my strength and will
shall be my redemption
should you hear me out

through i fought valiantly
with noble intentions

the monster
was to me
as his name does describe

his fury and rage
was unkind to my stature

i will walk forever
with the scars
of this encounter

but so shall he
the monster
bear forever
the fear of my image

as i
henry the strongman

am the first man
to confront the
horrendous beast
that imprisons us

so i say to you
my fellow villagers

shall you spare me
the fate i deserve

for a second chance

a second chance
to redeem myself to you

i shall give to you a promise

a promise that i shall
safely guide all
through the forest
for only a mere gold coin

protecting all
from the monster
as he now bears the fear
of the only man
to challenge him

what do you say
to my proposition
my dear friends
and family"

 

as the surrounding darkness
became increasingly so

mr. henry hurried his pace
back toward the village

he spoke aloud to himself

"i am victorious
i am victorious

i have defeated the monster

i shall live
the life of a hero"

but just as mr. henry is strong
he is also clever

an aspect of himself
confronted
the forward movement
of his legs

this aspect whispered
into his being

"do not be a fool

your father taught you
as did his father

that glory
is a fleeting thing

it is buoyant
in essence
and does not
remain still
for long

a fact
you will present
to your fellow villagers

will be forgotten
just as quickly
as it arrived

but a myth
will last forever"

the words
danced through
mr. henry's consciousness

he knew he would be foolish
to stand on the podium
for an hour

to only be dethroned

slipping back
to the poverty
he has become familiar with

falling even harder
than he had before

as all men know
water from the well
tastes bitter
after sipping wine
with the wealthy

mr. henry the strongman
did not
raise his hands in prayer

nor did he
bow his head
in submission

he knew
the god of gods
would show no favor
to a greedy man
who would do anything
to escape
the crushing weight
of an idle mind

but in his silence
and mental anguish
he gave life
to a plan

a sure and certain way
he
the strongest of strongmen
could regain
the relevance
and power
he once had

mr. henry
left behind
any trace
of carnage

he roughened his appearance
made his clothes torn
and sprinted

just as a boulder
does fall from the peak of a cliff

in the direction
of the village

he cried out both
as a victor
and victim

of battle

between labored breaths

he barreled
toward the village

"i will be victorious

i will be victorious"

 

mr. henry the strongman
was not pleased
by the monster's response

"you vile beast
i demand you betray to me
your name

what kind of monster
bears the name
TRUTH"

the monster
leaned forward

"what compels you
to believe i am a monster

my name is TRUTH

it has not always been
but it is such now"

mr. henry
frowned his face
in dominance

"you can call yourself
any name you desire

you can consider yourself
to be any creature
that walks the earth

but i have come
in irrelevance to your confusion
to defeat you"

"that would not be wise
for you

i will accept my fate
as it is your fate
as well

i trust you
will give thought
to this"

"you creature
i have already
given this moment much thought

how presumptuous of you
to say to me

you are not fierce
nor are you alarming

now
step toward me
so we stand
face to face

and we shall then
take three paces backward

to fight
as men fight"

the monster did not move

"what holds you back
from defending yourself

are you a monster
and a coward

come forward
at once"

"i have nothing to defend
as any beggar could see

i am spoken of
by every man
in your village

but not one
could recognize me
by name alone

you
now have the chance
to know me

by name
and also deed

though
the men who seek me
never know me

and this
i am understanding of

as i stand
in filthy clothing
before a man
who will surely
release me
from my bondage"

mr. henry the strongman
did not entertain
in his mind
the concept of philosophy

he did
as he knew
he could

so
with the swiftness
of a skilled weaver of baskets
mr. henry
selected the fate
of the two

 

"i will defeat the monster"

mr. henry the strongman
repeated aloud to himself
as he stood now
before the ancient trees
and the muddy ground

a crowd of villagers
gathered around him

they cheered and shouted
along with each deafening battle cry
of the determined strongman

the villagers
being villagers
would cheer any man
to his death

but because this was mr. henry
and because this was the monster
they cried as loud as they could
fearing not the pain
or the consequences
of such a cathartic action

as mr. henry the strongman
ventured into the forest
the villagers cheered and cheered
until the distance between
the two parties
became so great
that he could no longer
hear their shouting

though the sun was still above
the dense foliage
darkened mr. henry's surroundings

he walked forth
confident in his strides
but apprehensive
to wander in any direction
other than forward

these woods
were a frightening place
even for a strongman

and mr. henry knew
that strength
is only strength
when compared to weakness

"i will defeat the monster"

mr. henry the strongman proclaimed
to nothing
and no one

he repeated this mantra
again and again

it was certainty
and comfort
to the strongman

but in a pause
between exclamations
mr. henry heard
the snapping of a branch

it was as if this branch
was crushed beneath
the weight
of
a
very
heavy
man

"who goes there"

questioned mr. henry
keeping still
and raising his arms
to a defensive position

more branches snapped
and leaves rustled about

mr. henry the strongman
could hear definite footsteps
heavy footsteps
slow footsteps
but somber footsteps

they neared him
but no figure could be seen

"show yourself
you fool

i am mr. henry
the strongman

i come to defeat you"

the footsteps continued
and as their proximity neared
mr. henry could see
the shadowy figure
of a tall
wide
being

a monster

he came closer
and closer

his body was wrapped
in torn canvas

his face was worn
tired
asymmetrical

it sat atop incredibly broad shoulders
set at an angle

this disfigurement
spanned from his upper body
to his torso
to his hips

his gait was unsteady
but thoughtful

it was as if he carried each step
with an uncertainty
if it would even reach the ground

he was a large man
a frightening man

but assured
in his stature

"i am mr. henry
the strongman
of the last great village
and i have come
to defeat you"

mr. henry
sized up the monster

they were an honest match

no one stood taller
or shorter
than the other

the monster
stood unimpressed
with the shouting
of mr. henry

"betray to me
your name"

demanded mr. henry

the monster looked
to him
in the eye

he smiled
with his crooked teeth

not a smile
of arrogance

but a smile
of understanding

his voice cracked
and bellowed
like a rusted wheel and axle

"my name is TRUTH"

 

the village
where mr. henry lived
was unique in location

it was surrounded by mountains

tall mountains

impassable mountains

with only one point of exit
through a natural passage

but this passage
was made difficult
by an old forest
with many ancient trees
and the saturated soil
of which they derive their nutrients

the ancient trees
and their inhabitants
made the passage
a difficult journey

but most of all
the journey was made
impossible
by the presence of a monster

men never wandered freely
into the forest
as they lived in fear
of the monster
which guarded the passage

he was the thing of legends
of nightmares
of inherited fears
passed generation to generation

keeping the village
small
and superstitious

only men
of proper age
and proper status
accompanied by the magicians
could pass through the lane
to trade with the neighboring villages

but only on certain evenings
with the consent
of the magicians

it was a fanciful sight
filled with chants
and noisemaking
and bright costumes

ringing bells

torches illuminated by minerals
that had the capacity
to change the color
of the flame itself

such a fanciful sight
indeed

but mr. henry the strongman
was in the middle of suffering
and as a result
had little fear
of the monster
that lived
so close

he said aloud
to himself

"i am the man
who will defeat
the monster"

 

MR. HENRY THE STRONGMAN

mr. henry the strongman
lived a less than comfortable life
in a more than comfortable village

a village where the weather
was never observed
to be too cold
or too hot

nor did the rain ever
wash away the bridges

but such a village
becoming such a center
had less and less use
for a strongman

even of mr. henry's caliber

the work of a strongman
was done by new inventions

and the men who designed
these inventions
lived as comfortably
with as much notoriety
and respect
as the strongmen
once did

but mr. henry
was as his name implied

he would not let
the conveniences of a refined world
starve him of his inherent strength

mr. henry knew
that of all the duties
he had been stripped of
by the intervention
of high gadgetry

one feat

had yet to be conquered

by any man
or any invention

 

i wanted to share something
that i found amusing
yesterday

a group of characters i employ
were sitting around a computer monitor
with a news article
on the screen

it featured a photograph
of hundreds and hundreds
of kayakers
floating around an oil drilling rig

apparently protesting
with signs and banners and such

i found it curious
that the kayakers
convinced themselves
of any significance
in their drama

kayaking about
with pretty signs
and presumably
organized and equally cliché
chants

i would bet
the platform workers
and operations managers
found it mildly entertaining to view

breaking an otherwise monotonous day

not an ideal audience to have
lol

but what were the protesters
really saying
with their little drama?

well
the kayaks they were floating in
are made of polyethylene
which is derived from oil

the wetsuits they were wearing
are also derived from oil

the same can be said
of their clothes
their water safety supplies
and even down to the
crafts used to make
their silly
banners

i feel it is safe to assume
they did not walk
to that chilly and isolated lake

nor do i assume
they walked back home
carrying that heavy kayak
through the brush

they drove vehicles
of some kind
to the distant lake
with their kayaks
strapped to the tops
of such vehicles

and considering the terrain
the vehicles used
likely were not very compact
lol

so
let's readdress
what the protesters
were truly saying
to the moderately amused workers
on the platform

please read it
as if you are shouting it
into a megaphone
lol

"we have mediocre jobs
with mediocre pay

and due to our work schedules

we have decent leisure time

and due to our work environments

we are bored and somewhat restless

we watch the news
while we sip our imported teas

and we see
on our flatscreen tvs
pictures of environmental destruction
and corporate greed

since we don't see
beyond our screens

we become upset
when we hear
that things aren't fair

it isn't fair
that unfair things happen

we are bored
we restless
we are dependent

we are bored
we are restless
we are dependent

wait....
what.........?"

lol

it appears
they are doing
nothing more
than shouting in a large group
to each other

practicing CATHARSIS

since they cannot do anything
other than wave banners
and speak loudly
to others
who speak loudly
about the same things
in the same ways

it must feel therapeutic
to pretend

it's a safe sandbox

the protesters avoid
the leadership
of the oil companies
they shout about

in fact
they make noise at the last place
such a leader
would desire to visit

an oil platform
somewhere cold and inhospitable

the protesters already know
how such a conversation
would go
should they decide
to address the corporation

any astute leader
in the oil industry
would put them in their place
only a moment
into the conversation
with

"how was traffic
on your drive in this morning?"

lol

 

i should add
to my meanderings about belief
that i have no use for belief
in my daily life

religiously
scientifically
culturally
or otherwise

i know how casual readers
sometimes see a name
or an idea
they subscribe to
mentioned in a post

and then jump to silly conclusions
or worse yet
self-validate their own beliefs
off a hypothetical comparison

i just enjoy the dialogue
a good and solid question
prompts

or the lack thereof
lol.......

people defend their beliefs
in darwin
or milton
or god
in amusing ways

oh...

or celery

ya got me.......
lol

dogmatic thinking
seems to find its way
into all areas of thought
and being
once laziness and complacency
settle in

would a termite
should it develop
to a level of sentience
we have achieved
become dogmatic?

how about a frog?

or a crocodile?
lol

is religious thought
a local phenomenon?

or is it a natural byproduct
of developing sentience?

and if so

would the magnitude
of which it develops
be greater
or lesser
in other species
should they become bipedal
and intelligent?

or is it a side effect of dominance?

or a long-winded final wheeze
from the oppressed?

 

what is genetic homeostasis?

who is richard milton?

why is he so hated?

before i ask any other questions
i have a short story to share.........

of all the vegetables
celery is the least appealing

i would go so far as to say
i wholeheartedly despise the taste
of that peculiar excuse of a vegetable

i find it absolutely appalling
in flavor and texture

it is painful for me to fathom
how anyone could enjoy
such a miserable excuse
of a vegetable........

earlier today
i came across an article

a very short article

on the superiority
of celery
as a vegetable

such a versatile vegetable
it professed
boasted, even
of celery's ability
to be both a snack and additive
to soups, roasts, and salads

"ABUSURD!"

i thought

"how could anyone think such drivel?"

i noted

"whoever wrote this
must be a maladroit idiot
who feeds through osmosis
in a lukewarm puddle of water!"

i argued

and i then thought......

aren't i behaving like the pundits
maybe those of richard milton?

it would seem so
as we would be sharing a commonality

a strong belief

their belief in neo-mendelism
my belief in the inferiority of celery

we react
the same way
when our beliefs
are challenged

we say
the same words
when these challenges
make us question
our beliefs
our mental comforts

because
at such a point
it becomes a matter of belief
and not rationality
or true science

a matter of belief
requires explanation

a pursuit of science
requires repeating data

even charles darwin
entertained ideas
contrary to his own writings
as a matter of intellectual curiosity

but when such curiosity becomes depleted
it is replaced with a dogmatic reassurance
in the original words
that sparked the intellectual curiosity

richard milton
is a journalist
who asks uncomfortable questions
about genetics
geological dating
mendelian thought
darwinian theory

he avoids conclusions
and points out
odd bits of science

or familiar scientific observations
peered at through a different lens

but through his writings
and questionings
of the current scientific beliefs

he has attracted
bizarre insults
from modern scientific pundits

he isn't a scientist
so why does his opinion
matter so deeply
to scientists?

he is a citizen
asking questions
to the general consensus
of minds we deem knowledgeable

questions that any common man on the street
who employs his mind to some degree
would himself ponder of

scientific minds
are minds we entrust
to answer the questions we ask

isn't that why we employ scientists?

to answer the questions
we cannot address ourselves
due to our limited time
and limited resources
as individuals?

that is a valuable service
to all fields of study

but richard milton
is called words and phrases
similar to those i use
to describe celery lovers

as to be expected
when a belief is questioned

consider genetic homeostasis

natural, restorative methods
that act to correct
perturbations
of the genetic composition
of a given population

consider natural selection
as well

and consider the two processes
as working not separate
but together
in a complicated manner
along with many other processes
of which we haven't the curiosity
to even imagine yet

surely a question
concerning genetic homeostasis
and the data behind such a process
directed toward
the study of the development of species
would shake the foundation of a few beliefs

the question
at this point
becomes

"if the human irrationality of belief
can infiltrate the field of study
dedicated to observational knowledge
what can be said of understanding
and what can be said of dogma?"

 

THE FINAL BECAUSE

to the average mind
a sharp question
is just that

a physical pain

a needless headache

much the same is a mile run
to a man who prefers to be sedentary

but to ask questions
is natural
and this is profoundly obvious

children ask
"why"

to every new observation
or fact
shown to them
or stated

we want to know "WHY"
it is such
or so

pragmatically
our development depends
on a deep understanding
of our environment

to question
is to gain awareness
fitness
mental and physical
to ensure our survival
yes?

but a new word also does arise
"because"

a concise response
to a concise question

but such a response
is actually an avoidance

an incomplete statement

as a response should begin with "because"
at the least
and follow up with supporting evidence

but through the study of psychology
the word "because"
becomes the full response
and it becomes accepted as such
due to observed repetition
at an early age

consider sales

most competent trainers
advise their staff
to profusely use
the word "because"
when following up a customer's question

even if what is said
following the "because"
involves weak supporting facts

"because" carries such a weight

to even hear the word
suggests
subconsciously
completion

"it is so because it is so"

"fair enough"

they will conclude

¿por qué?
¡porque!

as we say in the spanish language
lol

the world
after the final "because"
is a dim
room-temperature
office
we find ourselves
both loathing and taking comfort in

it is an agreement
between the listener
and the psyche
as if they share a canoe
and both commit
to remain motionless
so as to not tip into the water

but such a canoe
will go only where the river takes it

a mind can only progress
when it is uncomfortable

working
learning
evolving

but avoidance of mental conflict
is also a survival impulse

so
here sit two lions
both hungry for the same steak
lol

ask a friend a question
of an observed behavior
and ask them why they do such

they generally answer first
with
"just because"

if they are asked "why" again
they will answer with
"well, i always have"

and if they are asked "why" once more
they will responded by saying
"i suppose i don't know why"

they may offer an excuse before

or revert back to the "because"

it is uncomfortable
to question oneself

even the subconscious
cowers upon hearing "why"
asked to it directly

to ask "why"
or to question in general

is a fierce deterrent
to the mediocre minds

ask yourself "why" it is so
three levels deep

and observe your primal mental defenses

the deeper you get

a question is formless
it cannot be pinned

it is not a statement
as such
so a weak-minded opponent
will have nothing to throw against you

but you will have
a multileveled response
to encapsulate him beneath

an auditorium can become upset
over a statement

but enraged
over a question.............

 

can a question
be answered
with another question?



isn't the best question
a question
that provokes a response
which
in turn
provokes a silence

then.......

........

...............

"AH HA!"

clarity

not contentment

clarity

so we will ask ourselves
questions
about our understandings
that support other understandings

and we will see
how many further understandings

are supporting our foundations

as well as the strength
of such support systems

oh
and if you want to find out about ET
or try to save the world
or any other of that nonsense

don't bother reading any further

you'll only feel restless

i just want to think
and dialogue
and question
with others that think
and dialogue
and question

theatrr

 

"well oh well"

that's what we say
when we feel clever

when we stand above
a circumstance
or situation

when we peer through
the lens of the microscope

at the amoeba

who doesn't know
anything more
than how to "amoeba"

curiosity

a genius said

men have answers
but
the wise have questions

"KNOW THYSELF"

was inscribed
in the pronaos
of the temple of apollo
at delphi

so we will ask questions

as we did
before we convinced ourselves
to stop

why
because
why
because
why
because
ok...

a good question
can be a dangerous thing
to pose
among a group of mediocre minds

just ask SOCRATES

 

the end of the third season neared

and anton
good on his word
could easily count several hundred chickens

at any given moment
in their confinement

but anton
did not
expand yet
the living space
of said chickens

their movements were restricted
and their natural behaviors
were limited and made artificial

peculiar
it seemed

no different than anton

confined by that quiet room
where he sat
day after day
still counting
the same pieces of gold

he would hold them
just above the stone floor

and drop them
one by one

to listen to the sound
the gold coins made
while they did strike
the ground

aurel would overhear
the echos of such gestures

it made him nauseous

the more he heard
his self-interested cousin

playing about
in his quiet room

all while the very source
of his little gold coins
grew more and more detached

the more
then
he became enraged

but rage
in the reactive mind
leads to violence

mental violence

and such an oppressive feeling
disturbed aurel greatly

as all feelings of power
disturb him

but at such a time
aurel could not
tame the lion
in his mind

he sprinted outside
to the fenced confinement
where the chickens
find themselves
beneath the sun

and it was there
aurel observed
his first move

a young rooster
was pecking at the fence
in such an area
where the wire
was becoming thin

and the wire
in this area of the fence
was bulging outward
toward the open field

the momentum
of this rooster's continual habit
was creating a weakness
in the confinement

an opportunity
to work with nature

aurel hypothesized

to leverage the forces
already in play

to forge an outcome
most favorable
to himself
and the chickens

but a nagging voice
from within
aurel's mental chamber
swirled about

"it is true
you do know

that should you
create a fissure
on the fence
that serves a single purpose

then you
shall find yourself
at odds
with the word
you declare yourself
to preserve

as it would then
become impossible
to watch over the chickens
should they scatter
about the countryside"

but aurel
reasoned against this voice
as it spoke louder
and louder

aurel convinced himself
that should the chickens
become suffocated
in their unnatural confines

due to his cousin's aggressive greed

then he will no longer have
any chickens
to watch over

but as aurel
battled with his mental balance

his cousin
anton
approached

the nearing cousin spoke
"aurel
you fool

a passerby
would find you
to look ridiculous
as an animal

get to your feet

as i wish to speak with you

my cousin

you see

i am traveling to the village square
when tomorrow's sun
reaches the tree line

i request that you accompany me
as i will have many supplies to carry

and it is
quite apparent
by the looks of you now
that you are doing
nothing of great importance"

anton drew back his shoulders
displaying a look of complete confidence

aurel was far too engrossed
in his own thoughts
to form a response

he was piling arguments
on the great balance of the mind

one by one

on each side

until no dialogue remained

until silence fell upon his mind

no different than the silence
of inaction

yes
inaction

it did seem
that the balance
favored a lack of action

this
of course
further upset aurel

but aurel
could not argue
with his own mind
and he could not
rewrite his own principles

so he sat
in silence

complete silence
of mind

and in such a silence
the physical senses are heightened

sights become clearer
smells become more pronounced
textures become more refined
tastes become more poignant

and sounds

they become nearer

a faint scratching
can sound to be
a cracking whip
in such a state of mind

silence

but from this silence
aurel could hear
in the far distance
the impact of a horse's hooves
on the packed dirt road

and the roll of wheels

carriage wheels

along the road

he could hear the larger bits of sand
crunch between the wheels
and their tracks

a large carriage

it was an unmistakable sound

an unfamiliar sound

as such a carriage
is not common
along a road
that parts from many distant roads

all leading no where

aurel smiled
a deep grin
that stretched across his face

a smile that pained him to display

but gave him great joy
regardless

aurel knew
the coming carriage
was the carriage
of which
he and anton's grandfather
would arrive in

anton broke the silence
"what has you
under such a spell"

aurel replied
"my cousin
our grandfather
is returning"

anton waved his hand
in a dismissive manner
"aurel
you are absurd

i hear nothing

and i see nothing"

the two cousins
stood quietly

both stretching the limits
of their hearing

the sound of hooves
became very clear

anton berated his cousin
"yes
i hear now
the sound of a horse's hooves

but many men have horses

and many men ride in carriages"

the two stood

and as the sounds grew nearer
even a weak ear
could decipher
that the approaching carriage
was very large

far too large
to be a usual villager
traveling to retrieve eggs
or a small sack of grain

both cousins
realized
such a carriage
could only be
the carriage of their grandfather

old man dante

anton lowered his head

his face became pink

and his eyes
looked straight ahead
toward the road

he stood motionless

but aurel
observed the situation
with all his senses

and directed his attention
to the carriage
now visible
as it neared

closer

and closer

and closer

six horses
pulling an extravagant carriage
painted a deep red
with green accenting
around the windows
and purple stripes
across the doors

slowly

the carriage approached

and pulled onto the path
that leads from the road
to the barnyard

the sight of the large horses
startled the chickens

and the cousins
standing in disbelief

fanned away the kicked-up feathers
from accumulating on their shoulders

as the carriage came to a halt
the coachman stepped to the ground
and opened the ornate door

from the opening
old man dante
ducked beneath the frame
and planted his feet
firmly on the earth

the coachman gave to the old man his cane
as he took slow and direct steps
toward the shaken cousins

old man dante
stopped four paces from the cousins

he looked to the barnyard

he looked to his grandchildren

he looked to his chickens

he looked again to his grandchildren

his grandchildren
stood with shame
and fear

though it was apparent
aurel stood with less
of such feelings

but the old man remained
without words
wielding a stern expression
that no man could read in to

he held this expression
for nearly five breaths

until he hobbled near
the chicken's outdoor confinement

he pulled from his pocket
a common hook

and anchored the hook
onto the failing area of wire

opening a large exit
for the chickens to utilize

the old man
threw to the ground
the hook
and walked near his grandchildren

he placed one hand on the shoulder of aurel

and one hand on the shoulder of anton

old man dante spoke
in a voice
that displayed renewed strength and clarity
much in contrast
to the feeble person he was
prior to departing

"when a man of knowledge watches

he observes

and when he observes

he influences

such a man has no way

of escaping this truth

men of knowledge must then

be aware of the power they hold

but such a power is potential

until made kinetic

aurel

you are wise

anton

you are wise

the faults of your wisdom

are the strengths of your wisdom

but such strengths must be balanced

each man must hold the other

to the same level of accountability he holds himself to

or a loud dominance may be feigned

lessening by ratio the sound of the other

your grandmother gave to you both

a necklace to carry forward a meaning

when you both hold the beads of the necklace

aurel may hold sixteen

and anton may hold seventeen

but at any given moment

you each may not hold the same amount

as the sixteenth bead may not be split

and by this truth

wisdom is carried

as nature does carry

her young from autumn to spring"

and as suddenly as it arrived
the gaudy carriage returned to the road
that breaks from a road
seven times

and much in the same fashion
the old man
left behind his grandchildren

and made the long
solitary
walk
to his small house

leaving the cousins
in the wake
of their action
and inaction
respectively

but in this moment
aurel looked to anton
and anton looked to aurel

both surrounded now
by helplessly meandering chickens

an agreement
without words
was shared between
the two cousins

both weak
both strong

both right
and both wrong

an agreement
that each other

were
right
where
they
belonged

.

 

anton reasoned

"you see

we have been on our own
for many months

nearing the midst
of the third season

and the old man
has not returned
as he declared he would

i cannot speak for you
my cousin

but i wish not
to wait
until the lightless hour
at the finality of the day

standing empty pocketed
and hungry

with only the light
of a diminishing candle

hopeless

no
that is not me
and it should not be you
either

very soon
we will arrive to the big city
to where the old man retreats

we will arrive
on the wave
of our own funds

and all the men of the city
who admired the old man

will now admire us

for we took what he made
and made it better"

anton
refused to hear any rebuttal

he walked himself
to an extension built
on a vacant end of the barn

a room where he sat
quite often

throughout the days

counting the coins
that gave him the value
he cherished
and defined himself by

but this worried aurel

though most things worry aurel

this worried him most

how could a man
who holds himself accountable
for the outcome of a farm he calls his own

perform the duty
he claims is his

in isolation
of such a duty?

 

many months passed

and aurel
did as he should

and anton
did as he could

to keep the farm well
in the absence
of their grandfather

and to honor
the word
they made

in the matter
by which they understood to

tensions were pulled tight
and appropriately released
in a rhythmic ebb and flow

as the cousins
made the best
of the differences of belief
they each held

aurel
thought to himself
"this will pass"

but from somewhere inside
the caverns of his mind

as a faint echo

he could hear
the truth
softly call

awaiting no answer

"as you wait
for all to pass

consider
there are infinitely many
directions
for which events may pass onto

with infinitely many
points of pressure

influencing
such
movement"

aurel knew
that his fault
made him powerless

he watched the chickens
hurry about
without understanding
as to what has them
moving so quickly

and with such a lack of coherence

that an observer
from the outside
would wonder what had spooked the flock

he watched the new rooster
and all the feathers of his kind

he observed the tall fence
that caved inward
toward the roof of the barn
restricting the hens
from nesting outside their normal confines

he counted the chickens
now numbering
one quarter
of their previous stability

he witnessed
a process

not such as life

but a process
that carries itself as does life

and disguises itself
in all that is natural

but
underneath such protections
and mimicries

this process was not
affinitive toward life

it was an opposing force
with no balance

only precision

manipulation

and most noticeably
effort

such profound effort
to hold continuance to the process

a process
that should it be abandoned
would be undone
in completion
within hardly a matter of time

aurel
the observer
sensed the nearing of his cousin

anton
carried over his shoulder
not a burlap sack of grain
but one of many coins

they were heavy
and clinked amongst each other

in a mesmerizing way

that aurel

even aurel

could not prevent
his mind
from
fancying

anton spoke
"my cousin
we are wealthy men

the coins i now wield
substantiate this truth

my planning
is sure to thank

and my vision
for the future
will be funded
with the better half
of these coins

you see
aurel

by next season
we will have
several hundred hens

and by the season
following the next

we will have several thousand

with a new structure

and the help
of four farm hands

all in the name
of our grandfather"

but as aurel
felt the weight of fear
roll about in his stomach

he heard his cousin
speak
words

again

with no effort

"but

my cousin

i do fear
and have an understanding

that

the

old

man

will

not

return"

 

aurel arrived
to a sight

or possibly
a lack of such

anton was quick
to greet his cousin
as he arrived
to the barnyard
with a large burlap sack of grain

but before
anton could greet
his travel-weary cousin

aurel
dropped the heavy burlap of grain
and sprinted
to where the hens
roamed
and the roosters
roosted

he noticed
something different

the chickens
were less in number

and less
in variety

there was no longer
a pecking order
as had been established
by time
and practicality

the field was in disarray

aurel called to his cousin
"what have you done

i was absent for three nights
and upon my arrival
i see

without inhibition

that you have crossed
your word

the word
we have made
to our grandfather"

but anton
did not sweat

his face
did not turn flush
with reactive pressure

anton turned to his cousin
and tilted his head rightward

exposing his neck
his weakness
to the enraged pacifist

as any clever
man knows to do
when faced with
such an exact situation

he spoke to aurel
"my cousin
i know how you must feel

and i know
your eyes do not deceive you

changes have been made
as i said would be made

but
please also
remember as i said before

i do nothing less
and nothing more
than is in my nature to do

i did nothing less
than put to use
the mind
that powers
the hands
which make
the work
of an honest man
come to fruition

i did nothing more
than watch over
our grandfather's chickens

and with my watchful eye

i did discover
improvements
to be made

changes
to be had

for our grandfather"

aurel was livid

but this was out of character
for him

he caught his aggression
and tamed it

remembering
what is in his nature
to do

he calmed himself

and he spoke
to his cousin
"anton
you are playing me
against my nature
now

you are causing a rift
in our harmony

you know
i do not set the balance

you know
i only record the weight
of the balance

and you use this
against me

against our grandfather

to advance your agenda

my cousin
what is your agenda
and what is reasoning
behind the changes
you are negligently implementing?"

anton walked near

he put his hand
on his shaken cousin's shoulder

and extended his arm
toward the chickens

anton said
"observe

the chickens are
reacting

as they should

they are in fear
of change

but all of creation
fears change
because change
leads to uncertainty
and uncertainty
leads to accidents
and accidents
lead to the great unforeseen
that awaits us all

but do they need
such worries

you see
aurel
as i watch these chickens

no differently than i have
since early childhood

i notice things
observations

stress from reactions
that are a byproduct
of an unknowing confinement

do you remember the old rooster

that proud old rooster
who made the other roosters
and the hens
he found unfitting
a redundancy

but one of such redundancies
was of a more profound nature

he was of a feather pattern
that is highly sought
in the village

and in other villages

offspring
of such a rooster
would be of great value
to our grandfather

but such a rooster
has had little chance
to produce offspring
in past conditions

grandfather did not watch
with a keen eye

he could have maximized his profits
on each visit to the town

should he have taken action

now that i have sold
to the struggling farm
across the creek
that old proud rooster

we have now
a better chance
to soon oversee
a new farm

a great farm
our grandfather
will admire"

that word
thought aurel

if nothing else
from such a verbose monologue

that word

that one word

how it rolled off his tongue

effortlessly

OVERSEE

aurel knew
the implications
of such a word

a directing of the meandering stream

to oversee
is not to watch over

a father watches over his child
in the words of anton

a father does not oversee
his child

a foreman oversees
the labor of his crew

he engages
those who oppose
the direction
he represents
with force

but aurel
was non-reactionary

aware of his wisdom
and aware of his flaw

also

aware of anton's wisdom
and aware of anton's flaw

painfully aware
of these
two
truths

aurel
never wished harm
to anyone

and despised
to even act upon
the causes he felt
were within his nature
to affect

but aurel did
however
reassure his charged mind
of a simple truth
while his cousin
confirmed the results of his force

the truth
the simple truth
encircled aurel's mind

it is effortless
to push
a barrel of wine
down a stairwell
but very difficult
to pull it upward
in the direction
from which
it came

 

the sun had reached
its peak in the sky

and the old man
was gone
to the city
of his origin

left in such a silent wake
walked anton and aurel

but silence is something
tangible

not physically
but mentally

it can be passed
held
and crafted

wielded

aurel
entertaining both youthfulness and farsightedness

knew silence
was his advantage
over anton

not that aurel
would use such an advantage

but he was aware
of its being

aurel also knew
that he must take himself
to the village square
for three days
to barter and sell

supplies
eggs
and
gear for the winter season

it was a travel he enjoyed
a long walk
among trees he passed
years prior

he enjoyed observing
their progress

remarking to himself
which ones have grown well
through the summer
and which ones
struggled to capture
the nourishing sunlight

and now wither away
like saplings

aurel found beauty
in undisturbed nature

as nature
when left to herself
takes care of herself

in ways a man's mind
cannot fathom

aurel bid his cousin well

anton bid his cousin luck

and the two parted
one east
one west

one toward the home
one toward the village

 

the two cousins
were as flawed
as they were polished

redemption comes from
a dark place

and wisdom
the most practical of the arts
does not come without scars

and the scar
the flaw
one will choose
after realizing wisdom

is one of two

a man may turn himself inward
inflecting onto his soul
the impurities of the intellectually less-graceful

the suffering of the innocent
by the hands of the innocent

he may desire to withdraw himself
from the human condition

identifying with the natural principles
that operate without
the efforts of man

he may long for a loud noise
to startle the innocents
from their gradual slumber

but to long for such a noise
would be to cause an unpredictable reaction
among the innocents
who would fear the noise
and react among each other
in the only ways
they have been taught to know

a man of this flaw
struggles with the bite of his mind
and the poison
in his blood

this is the flaw of aurel

a man who realizes wisdom
may also find himself
in a different struggle

this is the second flaw

a man may turn himself outward
to the world around him

he may dam a river
to save a shepherd's field
from the water

only to blindly flood
an entire village

a man of this flaw
in realization of his wisdom

may be convinced
that while the innocents of the world
lay asleep
someone must be awake
and vigilant

the danger of this flaw
is not in the observation
of the flaw

but in the direction
of which
it leads the afflicted

a push leads to another push
stronger or weaker
but never the same

a man of this flaw
may believe
he is one with nature
as he comes from nature
and nature gave to him
his abilities

he may believe
that since he has such abilities
he must exercise them

this is the flaw of anton

but wisdom
is wisdom

and wisdom
being wisdom

knows that those
who reap of her benefits

will do so
in the way
of their inherencies

wisdom
therefore
is only achieved
by the current condition
if split equally
among the minds
of each direction

so the balance
may be an equilibrium
of full-sightedness

but just as wisdom is wisdom

men are men

anton is anton

aurel is aurel

 

the cousins
standing above the commotion below
observed

as their grandfather had taught them

and taught them well

the cousins knew to be still
physically
mentally

a heavy thought
can have a heavy impact

an indentation
upon the surroundings

anton and aurel
climbed down from their vantage point
and relocated to the barnyard
to breathe fresh air

anton turned to his cousin
"it is apparent
that changes
will be made
now
that we are
in charge

what do you say
in the honor of
our grandfather?"

aurel
looked puzzled
but replied
"i do not understand
the need for change

our grandfather tasked us
to watch over
his chickens

not to meddle
with the balance
he set

we cannot go against his word
as we never go against
his word

my cousin
i cannot agree with you"

anton
put the tips of his fingers together
and looked to his cousin
"you do not have to agree
with me
you only have to honor
the word of our grandfather

the two are not mutual
of each other

our grandfather requested of us
that we watch over his chickens
during his absence

a father watches
over his child

but should his child
desire to crawl away
from his line of sight

the father does not hesitate
to redirect
the wandering child

and when the child reaches
the age of near maturity
should his child place
no desire to better himself
with the interest of a trade

the father does not wait
to speak the truth
to his son

the father
does not allow
for his child
of bone and spirit
to venture into manhood
without identity

the father
does all in his power
to create
in his son
a man
who will be
a father
as was
his

aurel
i do no different
in my tasks

i do nothing less
and nothing more
than is in my nature
to do"

aurel felt defeat
but he knew
also
that defeat is no more permanent
than is victory

both are fleeting strangers

a defeat can be measured as a victory
after a length of time

aurel spoke
"my cousin
you may be right
in your rhetoric
as we stand and speak
to one another
beneath the sky
as it is today

but i will remember your words
three seasons from now

i will be watching over you
as well

that is in my nature
to do"

the two cousins
shook hands

and agreed
for the sake of agreement

but both cousins knew
instinctually
genetically
that the agreement
like the defeat
and the victory
would be only temporary

 

the two cousins
atop a long spanning beam
that ran the course of the interior of the barn
stood
leaning over an adjacent railing

overlooking the coop

where the chickens did bide their time

the confinement was large
but not too large

tidy
but not too tidy

it was
in every way
entirely typical
and well-fitted
to the purpose
it supplies

there were
144 chickens in total

24 of which
were roosters

these numbers
rarely changed
as the population
experienced little to no growth
positive or negative
in direction

the hens
and roosters
were of many different feathers

color
pattern

they were each unique
to the circumstances
that allowed them to
display
their predecessors' histories

aurel observed
with wonderment and awe

he was wise
for his age

but cautious
to not cause
unnecessary motion

"too young to be a cynic
but too old to be naïve"
as the old man would often say

anton
however
was very piercing
in thought and deed

he was a pragmatic
who could tug at the sail
just so
to make the wind
do his work
effortlessly

the two cousins
provided balance
to each other

and the old man

well........

he
agreed when needed

and disagreed
when not

that was his charm

 

old man dante's chickens
were regarded highly
in the village square

where women would visit
the cousins' stand
daily
to purchase fresh eggs
and the occasional chicken
to take to the butcher's shop

old man dante's talents
as a farmer
were appreciated
by many

and the products
of his labors
were appreciated
by his colleagues

they often asked the old man
in private
the secret to his process

old man dante
always open to share
an enigmatic smile

would simply state
"there is no secret
as nature
keeps no secrets
from those
that know where to look
and how to listen"

aurel once overheard such an instance
many years ago

the memory of the farmer's reaction
or lack thereof
never left
the young orphan's recollection

it would pass through

many evenings

as a ship in the night

distant

seemingly forlorn

but still
steadfast

it was a ship
after all

 

it was a long walk to the barn
where the chickens live

and the cousins
anton and aurel
made good use of this time

aurel pondered aloud
"what do you suppose
grandfather meant
when he asked us both
to watch over his chickens?"

anton
the more direct of the two
stated
"it seems quite apparent
the old man
wants us to do what we normally do
but without his supervision."

the cousins carried on
in silence
to the barn