Poem: Another enslavement (with apologies to Tessa Ransford, 1997)
So another fragile art Suffers enslavement And powers that worship power Fight another kind of war today. But is this an enslavement, then, Or the attempted obliteration of all art, For all time to come? Der zeit ihre kunst Der kunst ihre freiheit, That, at least, could later be restored. Is there any such chance again? I have many doubts. Like Goethe, I lament poor Gretchen’s fate: Mein Ruh’ ist hin Mein Herz ist schwer; Ich find ist nimmer Und nimmermehr. I am dumbfounded By the self-assurance Of the worst of this generation Their prodigal haste The manner in which They ride roughshod Through this, the new Wild West. What do you think has happened? How long shall we endure This shameful captivity? And what else can we do? ---- ------ --------- ----------- ------------ * Pub 1999