poetry, zine (2021)

Artist: Akiya Kageichi

all gods of our own planets, which side will you show?

how good are we really, at sharing (?)
does the evolution of thought coincide so obviously with economic progressions,
or does our western imperialism bleed out so obviously (?)

the wealth of nations would have us believe
that all are from the fight,
the flame, the rape

a bounty for our troubles.

that it is
to serve us, truly.

< who is ‘us’ >
the benefactors here, it seems
i ask >

has the destructive drive benefited us, truly?
us being you and i, glancing upon this

as a whisper,
compassion begs to be heard,
to detach, one feels almost, perverted.

perhaps you learn
to relish in the pain
to find a sense of power

to reconstruct
our faces
for re-entry
into the pig pen
of normal society.

which colours will you seek for your palate (?)
are they muted
subdued
or loaded
and corrosive

does the shadow beckon
or the light
or those shades in between

are you seeking to envelop
or pass by unnoticed

will you dress the wounded
or
would you dare wound yourself (?)

to placate distress, we go through the motions.
sanctify our sins (privately)
so we may once more find its opposite,

does religious mythology teach us this frame of reference,
or is there a natural law that operates within ones soul (?)

to strive for harmony, through an agenda unseen (?)
towards those human inclinations you hold so dear.
does it preserve,
or does it dictate apathetically-

with so
many spiritualisms to draw from
how does one know what to negate?

do you heed them (?)
or find your own internal guidance system
the most relevant to your journey (?)

that which asks,
how do we
counter natural decay with improvement
while also looking after one another

could this truly
exist
as the bedrock of our movement

as our general,
our guide,
in the birthing of fate.

are you ready (?)