rubric of appearances

by Roberto Lavidez

in a 

mindless age

every insight

takes on 

the character of 

a lethal weapon

assailed by 

questions

without answers

it had to be 

imagined

why were 

we killing

and being killed

knowing nothing

but loathing 

and fury

and the 

impossibility

of squaring 

the circle

denying 

the possibility

of its being done 

in the metaphysical 

sense

the man 

under the rubric 

of appearances

seems to be 

tangled up

in a kind of ball

keeping 

the absurd alive

a little hunger 

sharpened

his wits 

and reflexes

and improved 

his courage

his ideas 

are agents 

as sure as 

guns and bombs

desiring 

for revenge

showing its 

inextricability

from the sinews 

of time

and light

made free

by passions

intersecting 

with the

natural universe

it leaps forth 

like a cry 

from the body

revolted 

at the sight

of too much 

cruelty

growing out 

of the barrel 

of a gun

the paths 

to destruction

are often indirect

the only boon

he can beg for

is the stroke 

that reduces 

patterns

a wonderful mixture

of good and evil

to single 

atomlike existence 

where strength 

resides

in the hair

long and primitive

head reeling

in a cloud

contemplating

powerlessness

and loneliness

with intense 

anxiety

©robertolavidez2014