A Dispatch From the Ideological Front

A DISPATCH FROM THE IDEOLOGICAL FRONT                

“ [B]ecause of greed and luxury
. . . the result is the encroachment
of one group upon the territory of
another . . . statesmanship. . . is
replaced by politics, which is
the strategy of party and the lust
for the spoils of office.”

        -- Will Durant in

            'The Story of
             Philosophy’


Black and white towers rise in cold dominance
above a weary horizon, the terrain surveyed
edged with the antagonisms of sophist partiality.

From these towers self-appointed kings mock
wisdom, sending out knights with poison swords
to search out their enemies---those who oppose

their doctrines and thirst for authority and rule.
Even now, their vendors of fear and ridicule
continue to leave calling cards on the doorsteps

of darkened castles, whose shadows hang over
the contested land like brooding storms.
The council of kings on either side of the great

divide are not conceding to loss of confidence.
Pieces on the Nietzscheian front are reported
missing. Fumbling for answers, the caucuses find

their collective heads are empty, except for
the usual illusions and lies---the bishops having
voided corruption of the heart as a cause for

concern. Inside the castles, queens and rooks
walk through vacant rooms where no one
actually lives and no one actually cares.

Hopelessly obsessed with power and control,
they fold arms around hollow chests: gold plated
cages filled with unacknowledged sorrow like

birds too weary to fly above a sea of regret. And,
in the gray mornings---pawns, born with soiled
fingers, are forsaken to a clotting indifference.

Weakness is their legacy; the rage within grows.
We are watching carefully. No move is morally
insignificant. Nothing should be ignored.

Every move is freighted with taunt suspicion.
Faithless men could die of fright while waiting
in silence for the game’s play to finally end.

Author's Note

This my rant against the current political mess that my country (USA) is struggling with.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

I haven't observed politics for much of my life, so I do not catch some of your weighty jam-packed references. But I do share your utterly dejected tone. Since I do not care to discuss particulars, I'll just say I got this overall sense that the narrator was crafting & throwing down some fancy throw-away phrases filled with such bitter resignation, it felt like this whole piece mocks the hoity-toity facades & regimes that rule our country, to the demise of the masses. I agree that we the people are largely to blame for our apathy & lack of participation (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[kentuck14]

Thanks Margie for commenting and sharing on this . . . Never before in my lifetime has ideology been so ramped and thrust into our daily lives, right into our faces. Everyone is afraid to say they believe in anything without being criticized and ridiculed. A mean spirited-ness has gripped our nation's politics and culture. I am grateful for this site for its gracious attitude . . . knowing full well we don't all agree on everything. Yes . . . there is certain amount of mocking in this . . . for what can you do with absurdity?!

[Robert Trakofler]

upon re rereading this I am stunned by how often I revisit Plato in references of writing this is a direct quote from in the republic.... he describes a democratic leader as one of “false and braggart words and opinions” who dismisses moderation, calls “insolence ‘good breeding,’ licence ‘liberty,’ prodigality ‘magnificence,’” and “temperance they call ‘want of manhood’ and banish it with contumely.” Ironical isn't it:) he was not a big fan of democracy I would however vote for Plato

[kentuck14]

you're right . . . Plato didn't trust the uniformed "mob" to make good decisions. Yet the current "Republic" suffers from men and women of no integrity. Thanks for coming back, Bunny.
T

[R.E. Ray]

T., I’m beyond disgusted with American politics. We now lack not only leadership (continued from at least the previous administration) but also decency and good manners. Yet, I blame not only the thin-skinned narcissists and rich morons in DC, but the American public for not demanding better.

We’ve lost our way, and we seem unwilling to look up from our mobile devices long enough to see what’s going on. Your dispatch, sadly, will not be read or acknowledged by those who need to read it. Still, I applaud your message and its delivery.

[kentuck14]

R.E.,
Thanks for reading and commenting. Yes . . . I'm afraid we get what we now expect. I agree with your last paragraph!
T

[Eilis]

There is too much money in politics, so naturally the occupation attracts unsavory types who will do whatever necessary to hold on to their positions. And that rarely translates to the greater good. I believe the only way we will ever see change is to take that money out and make public service about public service. No corporate donations and community supported campaigns. There are too many incentives to betray the citizens of the country who do the paying and dying. It's a mess, Tom, for sure.

Your poem is a visual feast that details the darkness of it, and the ominous feel of hits home. I can't follow the news anymore. There is very little sense and too much finger pointing no matter where you look. Where is the moral compass. I just want to hear bare truth without partisan embellishments. Not sure where we will eventually end up, but I think it's a long road to get there.

[kentuck14]

I agree 100% about what you've stated. But like you said . . . it'll be a very long and winding road! The trouble being the politicians are the ones making the laws and they ain't gonna do anything that doesn't benefit them!Thanks for your thoughts and review.
T

[Chris Shaw]

A dark and quite depressing outlook on the political situation you find yourselves in over the pond. I have to say it rings alarm bells because we have similar going on here and democracy is not being upheld. So well written Tom and full of rich metaphors. We are going to have an election on Dec 12th. I am hoping for an early Christmas present where the swamp is cleared and all those self serving politicians who have thwarted democracy lose their jobs. Let the people speak. We currently have a dead Parliament.

Chris

[kentuck14]

Chris,
As I told John, I'm aware of your nation's similar mess. Hope things go well in Dec. and the quagmire is straightened out.
Yes . . . dark and depressing and without much hope at the moment. Our nation has become very polarized and our politics is just a reflection of this.
Thanks for reviewing and your comments.
T

[Robert Trakofler]

oh how I am waiting Kentuck! this could easily be placed as a horror story had I not read your description but it indeed works for the haunted white house these days you can almost hear the screams of the terrified previous occupants wandering aghastly thru its halls

[kentuck14]

Bunny,
My thought is neither side of the isle is worth a tinker's damn! Who can really tell the lies from the truth!!!?? Durant's thoughts came from his study of Plato who pushed the idea of rule by "philosopher kings." But I don't know if there are any 'wise' people anymore?! If there are there hiding in caves somewhere!
Thanks for reading and your thoughts.
T

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Wow this is dark and reminded me of Lord of the Rings in its shear blackness and scale. A monolithic edifice of a poem, reflecting the challenge we face. Tis not only in America, here in the UK a democratic vote was taken in 2016 and all political parties 'swore' to honour the result and yet today those who won the vote are being denied the result because of political vying for power. A powerful, pertinent and well presented poem Tom.

[kentuck14]

John,
Yes, I'm somewhat aware of what's happening in the mother-country. Politics throughout the world is bent on destroying nations. Yes . . . this is a dark poem, but I feel it reflects how most people feel as we are forced to watch such a farce. Thanks for reviewing and sharing your thoughts.
T