In a sea of absurdity the satireist is insane

Where is the fool

when everything is foolish.

What contrast

can he make

a gap about,

standing

as he was,

once upon a hill,

and all the vales

in between,

hoping

to suggest

a space

where others would want

no more than to make

connections across.

Meanings that might

change the stage

of play

and the acts

that we have paid

to have hold of us now.

The lines we draw

now, between and upon,

what once kept us

from breaking

bonds that could

be shared

even as other

meanings could not,

have made the part

that cooperation

once played,

in keeping

the actors on

the page where

the subtext isn't

destruction,

a farce, and

long past

the last stage

for thoughtful,

loving life

to play any part upon.

We are now

the Relative States

of America.

Can meanings vary

and still allow for

a common ground

upon which a republic

can still stand?

Not if abstractions

are all we deal in;

where counters

and other people paying

are all we work for.

Thoughtful, loving life

is not made

only of costs

to be avoided

and net gain

to be maximized.

It is effort that should be

shared, so that

individual achievement

can be appreciated

by everyone, and

everyone appreciated

for sharing

in the first place;

the burdens

as well as the joys.

I like going left.

You like going right.

And that is

as will be.

It does not change

the fact

that we all have

to mange ups

at times.

and to navigate downs

at times as well.

Making common cause

out of smoothing

those paths

seems to this fool

to be simple practicality.

Speaking practically, though,

maybe that's the essence

of our new absurdity.