LAMENTATIONS

by David Eide

The poet realizes, very quickly ,
that America is always posed between the
civilized and barbaric. He sympathizes with
the barbaric but fears when he sees it
believes in itself. He sees it sweeping
through the denizens of the disenchanted
city and takes himself away to the small
restaurant .It has gained a reputation ; is
always busy, patronized by the literary and
professionals.
"What", he thinks to himself, 'Is the world
being divided between the barbarians and
the civilized?' Is this some kind of eternal
question? I love my brothers and I believe
in Democracy. - how can I feel this way?'
As he eats, he berates himself, for getting
caught up in the question. I can only do
what I believe in. I can only do what gives
me more resources, more happiness. That
which threatens to take it away is
something that would menace all life, at all
time.
The Barbarian is the perfect
representative of an injustice and converts
his useful energy into the blind desire to
destroy anything with order. The poet
destroys order and recognizes the
barbarian with himself but, at a crucial
moment, realizes that the barbarian in
himself must develop to the higher states
of being an wills himself in that direction.
There is a moment of vertigo as he feels
the separation between the barbarian and
his aspirations.