Choose

WATER		UMBILICAL PASSION -- DAMS AND SCAMS
HOUSING		EVERYWHERE YET IN SHORT SUPPLY
ENERGY		WEIGHING AND PAYING THE POLITIC OF SUBSISTENCE
EDUCATION		SLAYING AND STAYING THE POLITIC OF HOPE
TRANSPORT		LOCAL ANCHOR TO GLOBAL RANCOR
FOOD		INVISIBLE WAY WE PAY FOR DISPLAY

AND YET:

THE GADGETS AND THE GIZMOS
THE GLAMOUR AND THE GARMENT
THE GAMES AND THE GEMS
THE GENTLE AND THE GRACIOUS
STILL FLOOD OUR GARDEN
AS IF TO SAY:
That the cry "ALL IS WELL."
And the cry "BEWARE!"
Are EACH the same,
NOT NEEDED.
NOT HEEDED.

THEN WHY
Is all the public forum quite convinced?
The quorum forms, is seldom minced
about the crush of cash and goods exchanges.
The manual's writ, to wit, new law rearranges
the how, the what, the when of cost:

"This must be spent or all is lost.
Pay the price, o' citizen, solvent/insolvent!
Order shakes order. The ruler is ruled.

"All is well? Beware this call?
Mere points poised on a graph of change."


We ask:
EPIC YESTERDAY, IS IT FLAWED,
RESTING ON OUR SHOULDERS?
EACH AND ALL OF US IS AWED!

THE TASK?
Both formers and molders,
both material and number,
both conduit and by-way,
both vitality and slumber,
both you and I, we and they:

ALL MUST CHOOSE.
ALL MUST USE.
ALL MUST MUSE.
ALL MUST LOSE.

AS WE PULL THE CART,
GRAPH THE CHART,
STOCK THE PART,
DREAM THE ART,

PAY THE PRICE,
CARVE THE ICE,
SHOO THE MICE,
ATTRACT THE NICE:

IT'S UP TO YOU AND ME
IN THIS DEMOCRACY,
YET, "WHERE DO WE GO
AND WHO WILL SAY SO?"

Is this what we're waiting for
To open future's door?

TRY:
WHAT PLENTY STOCKED IS PLANNED?
WHAT RISKING WALL IS MANNED?
WHAT SURE AVENUE, WHAT LAND?
WHAT MAINTAINED, WHAT SCANNED
TO BE RE-USED,
UN-ABUSED,
EXCUSED?

(Archives inventory what is no more.
Projections list what is not sure.
Accounts invoice what just went by;
Tax measures that decree, no lie!)
But, o' order, do not bend.
The use-abuse will surely mend.
"We try always, watchful, wary:
We know the time. We do not tarry."

"We, as people, strive in honor.
Alas, there's slight, or greed, or con, or...
These are only sides of nature:
Things that color or shade the slate, or
Absolve in partnership with fate and maker.
Don't frown here. We esteem the giver not the taker."

"Besides,
In all this social beast
a person must have his bread, his yeast
to rise and fill,
surmise and frill,
or balance in price
a gain of fair slice."

"You know.... This is enough to say.
See this balmy day?

Instead,
no dread.

Aren't we fed?
Aren't we led?
Isn't it said,

It all works out in time.?
Don't tease me. All is fine.
You have yours. I have mine.
What's more? Don't threat of less.
We're strong enough to face this mess.
What's that you say?
Another shortage play?
Another increase to pay?
Listen. I have too much to do today.
Go away."

OH CITIZEN, IT IS NOT EXCEPT DUTY WON.

IT IS NOT STRUGGLE BUT JOB WELL DONE
TO STRIVE INTO THE DEPTH, TO SEE, TO KNOW;
TO PROVE THE ADEPT, TO PLAN, TO SHOW;
TO GUARD THE NEED,
SHUN THE GREED,
ASSURE THE FREED.
HERE, I PLEAD
EACH HOLDS A KEY,
A PART IN OUR GUARANTEE
TOWARD OUR GREATER LIBERTY.
NEVER LET IT BE SAID
WE ARE SUCCUMBED BY DREAD.
SPEAK, "DON'T TREAD!!"
SHRIEK, "I'M LED
BY LIBERTY'S FORUM,
OUR PEOPLE'S QUORUM!!
REASON IS OUR DAY!!
JUSTICE IS OUR WAY;
WHISTLES ON THE EAGLE'S WING,
MAPS OF WHAT WE DREAM AND SING!!"

But of all we've seen or ever knew
It rests on what we say and do,
So regardless of the state of style,
The yard of cloth, the mile of smile,
The beginning names the resource,
The end scales the source,
The vision traces the course,
And principal assures recourse.

So, face the trouble!!
BURST THE BUBBLE!!
With yours and mine,
we load the fork's tine,
achieving our gain,
dissolving our pain.

EACH CAN REACH,
SO REACH TO EACH,
WHICH IS THE BEST RESTITUTION
FOR ANY STIFF INSTITUTION.

NETWORK FROM MATRIX,
MATRIX FROM NODE,
TO COIN A MODERN ODE.

NURTURE YOUR CLAN.
SEE YOUR NEIGHBOR, IF YOU CAN.

copyright 1983, 1999, 2002 Brian Hayes All Rights Reserved