Because they write history in the punishing dialect
of empire, and empire is broadcast on a frequency
of lies, they teach you to fear the language of truth.
When you understand this, listen only to mountains
and rivers, and fast out the lies; become the tongue
that is fluent in the language of truth.

Because they put mercenary professionals
in decisive positions, induced by long training
to justify injustices and defend the untenable,
they teach you to fear justice and fairness for all.
When you understand this, unbanish the fair
thinking of your own native mind; become the friend
and ally of the unjustly oppressed.

Because they penny the mouths of the poor
shut with system-wide penury, pretending
big bucks don’t buy megaphones for the rich,
they teach you to fear the speech of the poor.
When you understand this, learn why great wealth
is great crime; become the speech that is caged
behind the teeth of the poor.

Because they destroy forest and mountain
for pathological gain, ruin flora and fauna
for pathological gain, they teach you to fear
wilderness for to increase their control.
When you understand this, sit down with old trees,
wild animals and bees; become in your heart
the heartwood of the wilderness.

Because they infiltrate flesh with countless icons
and images, a proxy army of moles spawning within
alien forms of desire, they teach you to fear
you as you are. When you understand this, inventory
the soul and shake out the moles; become yourself
as you are, naked on the hearth of your own inner fire.

Because they denature food to garner unnatural
profits, and make it unsafe with poisons and drugs
and genes out of place, they teach you to fear food
in its natural state. When you understand this, eat straight
from the dirt of the earth; ripen thyself into Gaia’s
gorgeous desire, for diet is destiny and god is nutrition.

Because they divide heaven from earth, god from human,
people from people, they teach you to fear th’ infinity within
the divinity of all, and the feint response to the knock
of the unconverted, “I know you not whence ye are.”
When you understand this, stop knocking at a door
that will never open to a Spirit they cannot break;
become what you are, a pure sentient being,
for you are master of house and earth is your home.

little big pine
us southwest
twins together in the river of stars
march 2007

Little Big Pine: citizen, patriot, poet; may be reached at littlebigpine@gmail.com.