I set myself a quest. I sought high and low for the object of a pretty faith, and a lovely sentiment. I set out, with the worst of intentions, and I discovered myself vain and even vainglorious enough to seek a distillation of it.
Despite that alarming vanity, or perhaps because of it, I bumbled across wordy glen, and falling sideways for what seemed a day longer than forever, fell upwards into a madman's cavern. What a treasure was held within. A glass vial - and no ordinary one, no, this was done in etch and filigree - within which was contained this most potent elixir, a magical essence, and even an animated one.
Fortuitous accident, in deed. So goes the reward of a hopeless self-regard, and a mindless vanity.
Having been led across that verbal field into the secret lair of a mad scientist by the good fish and a vast conspiracy, and stumbling drunk with my own mirrored self, the test tube nearly fell of its own accord, leaping - I swear it - from off its perch upon a dusty shelf, and into my grubby, grimy tramper's fingers.
Much amused, I thought to sniff the scent of it.
Surprised, instead, by an earnest, endearing whispered voice, all disembodied, coming up and upwards, from out of within it.
Like a captured soul, or bottled saint, that voice came unto me: "...Lock arms! And let's get this unprincipled ego-maniacal sell-out out [Obama] of office! "
Replying, slighting and slightly, I, an evil man and often proudly, said back to he: "...to be replaced by a clone of him."
Incredulous, and tinny with despair, came that voice back out to air, "Nope. Not if we ditch this party completely, and support the independent candidacy of someone with actual principles.... rather than just marketing gimmicks..."
And I know what elixir, what power, what magic mystery was now revealed to worthless, goblin me.
The secret of a secret faith.
"If only..."
"In principle..."
" And if..."
Refrains from the mass of a high church faith, choruses of magical incantation, and the bottle-bodied dreams of a future already written in the believers' pluperfect.
Crow's Eye: Maintaining a commitment to Pointless Acrimony™ and Hate Filled Invective™! Also available in corvid mischief and traditional sly dog's mistrust.
10 comments:
Yeah, yeah, doom, gloom, everyone sucks.
Now, sir, for something really important.
This is a faith I am familiar with although no longer a practitioner. I do occasionally perform the rosary on the high holy day of Nov. 2, but it is an act that no longer has any significance.
Randal,
Akerfeldt is a ridiculous god of a musician and song crafter. Thanks for that. Listening as a type.
fish,
Also an apostate, but I was never initiated into the holiest of holies, perhaps because I was always a bag man.
"If only" people were good. "In principle" government is for the people. "And if" we can get good people into government.
Revelations to me.
I've scaled back all my hope; it's enough for me now if my children do not die before I do.
Silkwood,
That is really bleak. I'm starting to get a little excited by this whole thing. Humanity on the brink of destruction; terrible forces allied against us; imminent destruction... It kind of gets the blood flowing, you know?
The worm will turn. And it's a mighty big fucking worm by now.
losing hope is a good first step. If the cavalry isn't over the hill, its a good time to learn how to ride a horse.
what Justin said!
There is in the US, an undercurrent, looking for a voice. You know its there.
Jack,
As someone who is a big fan of your work, let me just say that I'm looking forward to your upcoming posts now, in the aftermath of this disastrous debt-ceiling compromise.
I know, of course, that, to a large extent, you've already said what you think about all this, but nonetheless, I find your point of view on all this stuff to be incredibly salutary.
It's people like you that give us the strength to fight, in the midst of all this "centrist" capitulation (or whatever one calls it)!
Thank you, Anon.
Unfortunately, I'm not equal to that task.
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