when the streetlight was invented
a collective sigh was surely shared by all
(well, all those embracing 'civilization', anyways)
staving off the dangers of the
DARK SAVAGE WORLD

is that when,
as a society,
our soul-fire was extinguished?

when was it
that our morals collapsed?

"but that's our society, we're rotten"
so some of us might say
...as a whole?
maybe so...

but the last I knew
a society was made up of individuals
like me and you

and the individuals i know
whether we be
christian or jew
muslim or hindu
agnostic, existentialist,
environmentalist, or somehow
otherwise
confused...

so many of us all, still
regardless of beliefs
seem to have this common morality
a desire for peace
a respect for decency
a love for family
a commitment to justice
a yearning for community
an anger towards selfishness
a disillusionment about the future...

and still a light of hope shining strong
in each and every one
a light that can not
will not
be dampened

and so, even though,
our 'society'
(supposedly)
is corrupt and failing
perhaps it is just those who we allow
to represent us, now,
those who hollow out our highest hopes
as they suck the marrow from our collective dream
with their greed

perhaps if it were not for those distinctive, destructive few
we would start to work together
and live in peace, and prosper too
using technologies and inventions
to serve the good of the whole
rather than for waging war on our brothers
and domination, and control

and, in fact, we would discover
(despite all that the "upper crust" might say)
we are all strong,
much stronger, indeed
than we have believed
...until this day


and this goal is close,
i think,
much closer than most would say

when you see how many creative souls are writing these words on walls
whether they be virtual, or in the ghetto,
in an essay, or in falcetto
the sentiment is the same

we don't have to look far at all

to see that our society
(namely, "US")
are still capable of deeply caring

and that's why i smile
at times when my TV would say
be very, very afraid
with the terrors of war
not overseas, but knocking on our door
babies and women dying and all for what?
what could it be?

as the oil barons raise their glasses
and laugh their asses off
unawares
not realizing their shares will be worth
nothing too
at the final passing of this boom
the era of the last tycoon
fading fast
in the aftermath
of a faulty vision
thinking somehow, they live somewhere
where karma is a pipe dream
and we don't have to live with our decisions
and we don't have to come clean...

still, i smile, as i make way
for a newly awakening day
knowing this too shall pass,
and this gift we have been given
the "present", being alive
a mere splash within
this rippling, writhing ocean of time

i smile thinking how lucky i am
to see the emergence
of a conscious, global generation
so many taking action, day to day
creating beauty, and art, and playing
promoting awareness and advocacy
no longer apathetic to the destructive agenda
alerting masses to the disasters of the past
(In this massive distraction of manipulated media
Let us never forget our past...)
and finding solutions, instead of prescriptions,
to the challenges we face
as a human race

and if only
if only
we continue to learn
from our nefarious wayward ways
and start to finally earn
the respect we feel we deserve

we as a culture, as a species,
just *may*
have a destiny to serve
each other, our selves
in greatness, and humility,
with honour and dignity

and it starts, and ends, today
within every one of us
within You.
within Me.

Begin it now!

Glory Be!