Workers' Liberty

DESPAIR AND PRESUMPTION

Despair rules now — sick child of my presumption?
I craved self-spun great social peaks; town-cried
For God's omniscience, for Man's assumption
Of right self-rule: lost innocent Red pride!
Better the narrow, prostrate, private mode?
Fear-gray, mind numbed, lie-fed slave-gray half life,
Bowed to an animal's fate under the goad
Of class dominion? Shun unequal strife?
Purr at our loss? Smile, though the world is cold?
Small choice I've had, a seeing wounded man
In the reek of slavery, where Life could mould
Sweet, free, clean fare, however brief life's span.
Despair knows nothing but the loss of Hope,
Flash-darkened skies, the tug of tight'ning rope.

Nov 1991