You won’t untangle Ideology

from whatever’s underneath/ it

sticks to things. We don’t know

what we think/ from what we’re told

barely feel what we feel, want

what we ache for.

And the fear is

That our we may be thinner

And we’d like it to be. Who are

these others, in trousers

and overcoats we’d never

choose for ourselves?

Where do they all come from?

They made this world we rail

against. They sustain it. They

are They we brace our We against.

So who to trust

when our own lives

must be placed

in the hands

of strangers?

When

in their faith,

commitment

and surety

of purpose,

our breath

depends.

To

Leap

Into

Faith

Is always

To fall

Into

Darkness.

Not knowing

If we will be caught, or dashed

Bodily broken

On rocks

jagged

hard

and

gleeful

as

teeth.

The moment

Before

is delayed, interminably-

For

Everything leads up to now

Or

everything is a postponement

of this one irreversible

decision.

To force the hand

Of history even

To make it say

No, I shan’t yield

I have my

course to run.

So that at least

You heard it speak

Even if it kills you.

Or, miracle, stoops

Down indulgently

and lips

Touch the crown

Of your head.