Theoria
Imperium is the Latin root of empire
an aspiration to absolute universality
impetus and warrant to wage war, execute laws, expand
Conquest was deemed morally justified
bringing civilization and true religion
to grateful denizens of many Protectorates
Trialectical human geography reinforces social constructs
of core and periphery, defining privilege,
creating marginalization and the status quo
in an application of cultural hegemony
Geopolitics, nationalism, and globalization
reinforce power structures, fuel the use
of vindictive military force among
anathematically opposed world views
Poïesis
Consider the devolution of the dominant center
both within our own psyche and the structure of society
imagine migration with no demands for acculturation
that allows cultural exchange and hybridity
Exploration of the nature of Eros, born of Poverty and Resource,
reveals a lack of the good and beautiful merged
with intelligence and resourcefulness
Love is never possessing but always striving
‘poïesis in the soul through the cultivation of knowledge and virtue’*
a threshold occasion, a moment of transformation
Ecstasis, begetting and bringing forth the beautiful
averting the inevitable consequence of genocide, the legacy of imperium,
violence toward the other, born within fractured selves
A blooming of the blossom, the birth of eudaimonia
through the reconciliation of thought with matter and time
poïesis, the source and meaning of poetry
Praxis
Application begins with critical pedagogy
undergirded by radical democracy, feminism, and social justice
the learner as co-creator of knowledge
Envision post-nationalism where citizens gain
actualized, liberated personhood in a new space
a new humane geography
Dependent on difference
encompassing universally recognized human rights
true diplomacy, an accord, a détente
for our traumatized globe still revolving around the ideology of imperium
*Plato from The Symposium
Chromapoetica 
intellectually vast and poetically expansive – your work is a challenge anna – as it should be –
you require the reader to engage or leave – that is both brave and distinctive.
of course for me this is a great write – fantastic
Thank you for the encouragement Arron. I couldn’t comment on you poem (Blogger kicked me out) so I hope you saw it on your FB post.
Totally agree with Mr Shilling on this one..I love ‘Imperium is the Latin root of empire’ so simply put but such a powerfully resonant door opening into your poem, & ‘Love is never possessing but always striving, ‘poïesis in the soul through the cultivation of knowledge and virtue’*
This is just divine…my mind and skin shimmer at ‘A blooming of the blossom, the birth of eudaimonia, through the reconciliation of thought with matter and time
poïesis, the source and meaning of poetry’
& I can & will imagine ‘The death of the Imperium’ and the realisation of ‘post-nationalism where citizens gain actualized, liberated personhood in a new space, a new humane geography,
Dependent on difference’ love that ‘dependent on difference’…
Thank you for sharing these wonderful words, & thoughts.
I thought the opening would make the rest more accessible so I appreciate your feedback. Thank you also for your attention and cognition – I felt I may have erred on the side of expatiation but it was to get the point across. So glad you can also imagine a society dependent on difference. As Janet points out in her comment we may then hope the paradigm shift would be ecological where community becomes more broadly defined to include the non-human too.
A lovely write, I agree with Arron, I think we humans have gotten so far from the plot now that the only thing worshiped by most anymore is money and the more people have, the more they want. Money is God and that is sad.
Very intricate, powerful and artistic write from you.
Thank you, we certainly need a new paradigm, philosophy, or interaction, imperialism isn’t the answer.
Each of the three parts here interdependent, building on the prior, shaping a philosophical spear with which to run through the mistakes of the past, and opening a vista to a future beyond the (currently) known. I hope I’m grasping your argument, but regardless, I feel the strength of beauty in it. Our polity needs a reforming, and rightly, it needs to proceed from our own, “begetting and bringing forth the beautiful…” and the functional for all not just the masters and implementers of the imperium. Or so I say anyway. ;_) Thank you for shaking the brain cage and getting a cog or two moving, Anna.
Thanks for engaging and you’re right on about the poem being a philosophical spear. I say in response to functioning for all and the reform of the polity, yes, absolutely.
and then imagine the same shift from groups of fenced value to networks of custodial value
from humanist focus to understanding or caring for the gaian whole.
I agree Janet, we may then hope the paradigm shift would be ecological where community becomes more broadly defined to include the non-human too. I write about that concept in other poems but felt I’d loaded this one down as much as I could. The ecological conception of the psyche is present here in the poiesis section but not as explicitly as in Aeternitas circumnativigates the inner landscape. Good points as always :).
Anna, love the way the piece is structured, you’ve broke it down beautifully into three sections that work in their own way yet moving in synchronicity. Entrancing construct of words and theory. Thanks for the read
Ooo, entrancing, I like that – thanks for your continuing reading and response.
in “Theoria” you classify things in threes which makes me think of thesis-anti-thesis-synthesis…
if my rondel (which you commented on the other day) “Coexist Sticker” is the thesis, and this is the anti-thesis to that poem, what is the synthesis?
Sure, Theoria is the anti-thesis to the Coexist sticker in that if we continue imperialism in all its guises then we can’t peaceably coexist. However, this poem was not intended as an antithesis to your poem “Coexist Sticker”. The Praxis section is a refutation of imperialism, empire, and globalization calling for a foundation of society that doesn’t create central and marginalized, where one culture, socio-economic class, or religion oppresses another. It challenges us to find ways to value and exchange culture without suppression. In practice (the heart of praxis) this is difficult, especially if we continue to participate in the social constructs that exclude and make others less than. Iniquity will continue to breed violence, domination will continue to create revolution, and oppression will not lead to peace.
So true, something needs to change. All this hanging up on worthless material junk and greed needs to go out the window and something new should be born, but alas those that have, don’t want to lose, so they will fight it every step of the way.
Yes and all that violence just perpetuates the cycle. Thanks so much for the read and comment.
i would love to read your poem, but i am too busy finding servant positions for all these brown people, and making the world England!
Yes, empire building is time consuming and exhausting (not to mention bloody) you need a bubble bath!
yes! and my vapors!
My, my. Never a disappointment. The imperialist structure – age to age, its drives never do seem to vanish, do they? Fine structure to this one, and an intelligent engagement both philosophical and captivating in its execution. Some poems make you smile, or weep – and than there are those that make you think, that engage. This is a fine member of the latter.
I’ve been reading a book about empire and what strikes me the most is how much of the geopolitical scene is still defined by imperialism, colonialism, and empires that ended long ago. Thank you for stopping in to read and especially for sticking with me through experimental, philosophical, artistic, and emotional poems.
can we dream of such a day…of individualism and interdependence on difference…you peel back the onion and make us taste the center at times bitter, at times to cry and at times to hope…def a thought provoker…
Thanks Brian, a person has to dream of something in order to generate some new thought to lever us out of this rut. It’s like the world is stuck in a mental set (in the psychological definition) so we’re going to cycle around again to informal imperialism, or cultural imperialism, or outright domination.
our traumatized globe still revolving around the ideology of imperium….awesome as always anna – love how this is split into three parts and each part could be a poem on its own – deep and philosophical..
Thank you Claudia, I thought the three part structure might help make it more palatable and helpful to the reader. I tried to have each strike its own tone to keep interest through the various arguments and ideas.
Ohkkay..This is very deep and initially i thought not for me an intellectually challenged one but then I read it again. And then I liked it the way three parts talk about the current state of affairs not specifically but in generic and sharp way. I like the way each is building up on the other one. First prompts on the deep root of our problems.. crave for power ./ second where you start with idea or give a vision to the reader to solve it and share how to make the problem small /lesser than what it is. And Third one the liked it best all ideas.. and specially this one
—————————————————————
Envision post-nationalism where citizens gain
actualized, liberated personhood in a new space
a new humane geography
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Your poetry is deep and very sharp . You take the reader to a different level which is what i really liked about it. Great one indeed!!!
Well, I’m absolutely happy you decided to take the trip with me because you’ve hit the nail on the head here. A different level is a marvelous compliment; thank you for the reread and wonderful comment.
Anna,
This exemplifies why the expression of great ideas is enhanced when subjected to the discipline and distillation that accompanies the creation of fine verse. I continue to be informed and enlightened by you particular choices of content and style. Very nicely done.
Thank you Steve, I tend to like to explore content and experiment in style. I appreciate feedback; it’s nice to see you again.
Interesting. I guess we are still stuck in Roman Imperial ways. Nothing has much changed except for the costumes, but we are moving forward and out of it, a matter of time perhaps.
It’s just like the Egyptians — they did have a hold on the world for thousands of years before the Greeks and Romans. So even though we view the Roman Empire as something ancient and gone, we might still be in it because of the way our society and government is, the style and order still based off it.
I hope we are evolving towards the more enlightened view, to think of the whole, appreciate each individual and allow exploration without fear. It is sometimes very difficult to see that happening when there is among us those who prefer anarchy or total ordered control, both ends detrimental and causes suffering. We seem in the midst of defining what freedom really is for one and all.
As always, your poem evokes thoughts.
Yes, the progress is slow, it seems like our global conflicts are escalating, and extreme viewpoints don’t get us anywhere. I think you’re correct that we are in the midst of defining true freedom. Thank you for your thoughtful reading. Also, I looked at your gaming blog and will return soon to comment :).
Cool. 🙂 Glad to have found another gamer.
Yes, sorry it took me so long to find your gaming blog; I’ll be around soon to comment again.
For me, this traced the themes of a number of creation/destruction myths. It seems to capture the very simple truth that the old must go and make way for the new.
Thank you for the sound prompt this morning, I rewrote Collisions for it. Yes, there is so much that we need to clear away to make way for the new. I always appreciate your visits, Victoria.
“i give you the new Rome,” said Thomas Jefferson. Little more than two centuries later, the empire totters. When Rome fell, a dark age closed in, and those who came after treated her as just the biggest pile of loot. Libraries were burned and a slave religion provided all the magical answers for the rabble for most of the next 2000 years. Tribal rulers built castles, provided some measure of protection for the common people and extracted tribute. But the first Rome had not overreached to anything near the extent we have — had not exploded the atom nor poisoned the water and air and modified the planetary climate to a catastrophic extent. What will our remnant — if it survives at all — say of our accursed age in two hundred years? As they hunt and gather and huddle around their modest campfires in the post-electric age? And how might they solve the ruinous problem of male aggression and violence?
Oh the burning of the libraries is rending and your point about the bomb is frightening. I wonder about your questions ever day, especially the environmental disasters, Charles. Thank you for reading and commenting!
This is excellent. On the islands before it was a simple life and now it seems that all people care about is their 4×4 and not their homes or other things. Seems like life has changed all over the globe and it would be nice if we could go back to simpler things
http://gatelesspassage.com/2011/10/11/the-day-of-the-dead/#comment-1682
Thank you, it’s always nice to find your encouraging comments in my inbox. I’ll be around to read your entry soon.
Anna this is a wonderfully inviting piece and works fiercely on intellectual and emotional planes for me. I’m living in the midst of imperialist legacy here in Dubai and look around wondering whether there will be the possibility of poeisis and praxis and what that will look like. Aesthetically, your exploration is hugely gratifying… each section adopting a new artistic mantle. Beautiful. Memorable. Challenging. Great poem.
Becky, what a gift you’ve given me in your comment. I’m speechless (I will have to get you a special reading chair here at Chromapoesy so you can be treated like the honored guest you are to me :)).
I am always amazed at the preconditioned dogma we continue to live by, though many of us insist we don’t, that we are free thinkers and welcome all who agree with us 😉 From the beginning of time we have always looked to the heavens to lay blame on the situations that befall us, even the cave men knew not to point the finger at themselves. Sorry…I’m late to the party and have already rambled too much, rather then write an entire essay, I will merely offer my thanks once again, for engaging all of us and getting my mind wheels rolling. I need a limerick now! lol
Me too Tash, so nice to see you here and hear your thoughts :)! We’re going to have to start taking responsibility soon, estimates are indicating we won’t have the food to feed the exponentially growing population by 2050 and the migration of humans will only increase as global warming shifts or destroys habitat.
Wow! what a piece, girl! Keep writing!
your stuff may be obscure to the many, but it sings from the One.
Rich, polychromatic, scintillating, and evocative are the adjectives I use to describe your poems.
To ‘go into’ them with rejoinder would be demanding…thus, I shan’t. LOL
Good stuff which I continue to enjoy.
Thank you for producing.
Well, for rich, especially polychromatic, scintillating, and evocative you get the reading gold star from me today. Some of my favorite superlatives thank you so much for stopping in to comment.
Seems like when we diligently focus our attention (“envision”) on experiencing true power, that
which empowers all beings, our process becomes open and creative, vast and inclusive,
deepening the understanding of the conditions of human suffering causing massive harm to
“our traumatized globe”, nonhumans, and generations that may never understand the lure and
appeal of Empire in all its hydralike manifestations over life nurturing transformation. “Ecstasis,
begetting, and bringing forth the beautiful averting…”
Your poem takes me into my broken heart with your wisdom and insight.
Thank you.