The Social Order

the preparation of substance
for consumption
is a primary concern. 
how to chop, mix, soak,
treat, flay, disembowel a thing
so it may be taken in. 
how to burn off its hide. 
how to boil it. 
how to extract essence. 
how to squeeze.
how to strain the squeezings.

how flow is controlled
is also a primary concern.
how information is strained.
how water is moved.
how the gates are kept, and
who keeps them.

whosoever knows these formulas,
knows the heart of living.

the oratory
is not a concern.
the literary
is not a concern.

that the literary
and the oratory may leap gates
is a concern.

it is of paramount concern
that the gates not be hurdled.

tiresome, that they are always
in flight. 
we would need to squeeze the air itself
to keep them quiet.

what if they tell everyone what they know:
that the gates are free standing,
placed randomly, and there are no walls?

this is a primary concern.

Tags: poems, poetry, meditations