Packs & Prides

image from fineartamerica.com

Packs & Prides

“We have all known the long loneliness, & we have 

found that the answer is community.”--Dorothy Day.

As poets, many of us gravitate

toward one group, or one site--

or even a few, where brief forays

into fellowship validate our world view--

where friendship takes firm root and

poetics blossom like fruit trees in Spring;

         minds are being aligned,

        talents are being shared,

      lessons are being learned,

      & styles are being expanded.

There are no perfect solutions to complications

predicated by community & co-habitation. We 

have seen too often that the loners, outriders

and the isolated can become vulnerable.

                                               victimized &

                                               violated--

so nomads created tribes,      then villages.       

                                               then towns,

                                               then cities, &

                                               then countries.

Yes, we have found that by huddling together

in urban nests there is a safety in numbers,

but there is also a reduction of liberty & privacy.

History is littered with man’s failure to sustain a

perfect community. After years of defeating Roman

legions, Spartacus took his army of gladiators and

slaves to the toe of Italy & he built the Sun City--

where all men were equal. Soon though, he realized

that a community of 80,000 souls needed some sort

of constabulary, justice system, governing body, public

works & sanitation procedures.

Within six months over half of his population defected,

and fled, returning to the less stressful arms of slavery;

refusing to step up & do their part. As a reward for

Spartacus, his grand vision of freedom & brotherhood 

crumbled into treachery and crucification. 

We run in packs like

wolves, hoping communities

are sanctuaries.

Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub