Grapple

I saw two magpies wrestling in Spring,
and watched my shadow lean into lengthening.
Marching in rhythm to cries of
"Fuck you I won't do what you told me!"
is bound to make a body
feel something--
especially if you're marching in step.

Consider, if you will, the noble path of enhancing the self.
Birds do not try to be better birds,
and a dog--left to his own devices--
will seek food and fucking
and deal with his lot.
Humanity has the unique quality
of being
able to develop its body,
its mind,
and its soul.

Call it the gift of reason.
Call it thinking about thinking.
Call it what you will.
It is our blessing and our challenge.
It is our gift and
the uncompromising call to make us better.

Accomplished through thoroughgoing
care and attention to growth in
appropriate directions.

Leave behind complacent natural examples.
Let them be content inside their being.
I am being something else.

Build an empire of signification.
You've already got all the tools.
And keep not stopping.