All That

Ghosts, Phantoms and Shadows
What we need to believe
What we're led to perceive
are all such subtle and fragile foundations
that we tremble and fret
when their reality's in threat.

A soft smile or slip of the tongue
will make wild fantasies arise
in our hearts and eyes,
whether old or young,
'till another Kingdom come.
The glimmering hope
in a rising sun
or the desperate knot yet tied
at the end of the rope
is but a breathless moment
to stave off all the fears
of the next day, month
or ensuing years.

Anthems composed for yearning ears
can lead emotions spiraling off
on courses of devotion
glory, and often utter destruction.
Analogies collected o'er years
with elusive purposes celestially endowed
can quiet a bleating flocks fears.
A simple solution or crafty deception
can rile a reasonable and rational mind
into forming or following a faulty opinion.

So fickle the Human mind
that without tangible explanations,
or straws at which to grasp,
we will create and cultivate them
in mass production
for mass consumption.

But should all our institutions fall flat
leaving Man mute, deaf, blind and all that,
some phoenix will reconceive them
from the ashes of our self destruction.
Should our imagination wander too far,
'Cross oceans, deserts and mountains
in search of our lost Eden,
in pursuit of our plundered innocence,
some backhand version of reality
will grasp our televised conscience
and force open our myopic eyes
to the price of our civilities.