I really appreciate this poem; thank you for sharing Allan! I've been in many conversations lately on similar topics, though by another name: Systems. Systems of government, systems of patriarchy, systems of capitalism / consumerism, often coupled with a desire for change.
However, my frequent rejoinder is: "But we *are* the system." Zoom in close enough and there we are, all individually following the same paths laid down within the system where millions of others have trod before us.
We follow these paths because it can be easier to follow. It can provide useful signposts that suggest 'safety' or 'efficiency', which might influence our sub-conscious. After all, walking off the path could equally lead to danger, and it's possible that some who did may have experienced calamity, resulting in others putting up fences along the way (rules and regulations on the one hand, stories and traditions on the other) or handrails to make it easier for those less capable of say, navigating slippery terrain, to get through the forest.
However, the path is just an unfeeling, inanimate 'thing'; it doesn't really care if people walk the path or not.
Which comes back to Foss' critique and provocation: We *can* choose to walk off the path, should we but muster up the courage or the curiosity to. And the power of that lies within each individual.
Sounds like that calf laid out Boston's streets.....
Tim
I really appreciate this poem; thank you for sharing Allan! I've been in many conversations lately on similar topics, though by another name: Systems. Systems of government, systems of patriarchy, systems of capitalism / consumerism, often coupled with a desire for change.
However, my frequent rejoinder is: "But we *are* the system." Zoom in close enough and there we are, all individually following the same paths laid down within the system where millions of others have trod before us.
We follow these paths because it can be easier to follow. It can provide useful signposts that suggest 'safety' or 'efficiency', which might influence our sub-conscious. After all, walking off the path could equally lead to danger, and it's possible that some who did may have experienced calamity, resulting in others putting up fences along the way (rules and regulations on the one hand, stories and traditions on the other) or handrails to make it easier for those less capable of say, navigating slippery terrain, to get through the forest.
However, the path is just an unfeeling, inanimate 'thing'; it doesn't really care if people walk the path or not.
Which comes back to Foss' critique and provocation: We *can* choose to walk off the path, should we but muster up the courage or the curiosity to. And the power of that lies within each individual.
Thank you for sharing the poem!
Scott, thank you for your comment. You are directly on target.
That is wonderful. You see I knew you are a wonderful man
But mankind as a whole keeps doint the same old, same old thing: wars, crime, greed, etc. It feels to me at age 81 like we have gotten nowhere at all.