(c) Tracey Grumbach
orphans of ideology
birthed of vengeance and invention
razor wire twined minds
inoculated against thought
suffering attachment disorders
imprecating when drawn close
distended bellies, emetic fed
crooked timber from which
no straight thing
can be built or imagined
monuments of totalitarian tyranny
agents of social genocide
technological mutations
of philosophy’s thunder
survivors of the ethical wasteland
post-apocalyptic terrors
great impersonal forces
devouring, obliterating, consuming
vacuous lusus naturae
specious liberty counteracted
by naivety of true answers
to end spiritual and intellectual confusion
as the great experiments fail
infallible machines tally
initiate rational reorganization
spout utopian simplicity
a return to pre-civilization
yet the fetid dead thrown
in mass graves accumulate
victims of progressive thought
now the omniscient puzzle
built of Platonic ideals
denatures with rot, denies all striving
My NaPoWriMo day 7 write linked to http://dversepoets.com/2012/04/07/poetics-new-view-for-you/
Chromapoetica 
Crooked timber from which nothing straight can be built is an awesome line and illustration. One of the biggest reasons I love your poetry, besides the message and skill of presentation, is the fact I know, as I read, my college education was not for nothing:) You always keep my brain sharp, especially while having to find/translate some words I don’t have to fit the context of your line. Always enjoyable. Excellente.
Yes, Kant has some great zingers: “Out of the crooked timber of humanity no straight thing was ever made”. Thank you for the wonderful compliment.
whew…razor wired minds…do you really think there will be many survivors of the ethical wasteland? as the great experiments fail…at the hands of those that run them…nice bit of commentary in this…
I don’t know, I really don’t. Thanks Brian :).
And you “nailed” it too – this passio, this crazy polarity or our current politics, this destruction of the social order. And all gives way to the narcotic of “reality tv” while lust, greed, and devouring power mongers continue to steal, and rape, and lie, and mollify the masses. Those who have not, will not, cannot know history truly are doomed not only to repeat the mistakes, but die as a result.
Thank you Gay! I loved your piece and will be by shortly to comment.
We are well on the way to bringing about our own demise, sad eh.
Being honest, it may not be a bad thing to let something else move to the top of whatever is left of the food chain. We don’t deserve to be.
This is deep, powerful and, very intricately woven. Lovely.
I appreciate your insights and feedback; it’s always good to see you here.
some great lines like:
orphans of ideology
survivors of the ethical wasteland
monuments of totalitarian tyranny
i get the sense of Occupy Wall Street meets the buzzards flying over starving African Children
Glad you found some good stuff within; your visualization certainly works.
kewl
black tailed fliers
Sounds pretty awful! Almost any ideology can go to rot. (Some more than others of course.) Certainly expressed with passion here. K.
It’s so true about ideology, especially when applied with rigor by the state. Thanks K. I’ll be by soon.
you took me there, and you did it well.
Thank you Leah.
We’ve worked ourselves out of contention. Only the unscrupulous, the crooks and the greedy thrived in the corridors of power. The way of the world today! How true, Anna! Great write!
Hank
It works, I hope, as a historical accounting, a commentary on current events, and a science fiction piece for the future. I think we have to look for new solutions, our old ideas have failed yet our new ideas are not fully developed. Thanks Hank!
“crooked timber from which
no straight thing
can be built or imagined”
powerful lines, their apparent simplicity, their complex pith.
the idea of an ethical wasteland, opens up the poem for me, a lovely juxtaposition of words, and a challenge.
Thank you cat, I’m glad the poem opened up for you!
great bit of social and human commentary anna…loved that you included kant as well…he had a sharp eye in many ways but so have you.. great write
Yes, Kant was accused of being the first hippy (funny when you look at how he lived his life). Thank you Claudia, I always appreciate your comments!
What a dire vision. So many horrors. “Razor wire twined minds” — that’s painful to imagine and even more painful to think with a mind like that. Bizarre dysfunctional structures from those “crooked timbers” that might fall apart anytime, or just stay there being a constant eyesore.
In reference to what is happening around me, I think things are gonna have to get worse before they get better. It’s impossible to do anything now without breaking something, and making one group or another unhappy. Crooked timbers have been used to build certain structures. Some people are gonna lose their homes if we are to remove them. I think we seem kinda stuck like that.
Yes, I see your points, as usual your interaction with the work is so appreciated. Who chooses the structures that fall; who will suffer; what is erected after? All great questions.
When a soiled world spits on us with invective and cant, then a polysyllabic goober hurled back is just the ticket, I think. Those buzzards circle both ways. Fine write Anna – Brendan
I am smiling like a snarky little buzzard! Thank you Brendan.
I am not quite as pessimistic, but I enjoyed very much reading your thoughts. Humanity definitely has a way to go though to attain perfection!
I hear you, I’m not really either Mary but sometimes I exaggerate to make a point. Thanks so much for the visit, I appreciate it!
Anna, amazing choice of words here–the piece would not be as powerful if simpler language would have been used. Such an amazing direction taken from the photograph. Great write. and also Happy Easter
Thank you Fred, Happy Easter! As you know diction is a vital element in poetry to me; wonderful to hear its potency worked for you.