THE TAO OF PROGRESS

The people are the water
and the establishment is the rock.
The people are the water
and human foibles the stone.
By passing over the hard places
for thousands of years
-- I am sorry it takes so long --
tyrannies are cut away
and our own human weaknesses
meaningfully dissolved.
Tyrants tear at the river
like a fishing bear gone mad.
Innocents are wounded or killed
but the river moves on.
In community, where molecule
knows molecule, our passions are spent,
our darknesses are measured
and led to dissolution.

The People are the water
and the establishment the stone wall.
We would grow whither we will.
We are the wild grasses; nay, the roots
of the wild grass.
Fecundity is our birthright
and movement our legacy.
The radicals are the muscle and blood,
and, I have heard it said, the conservatives
are the bone; together society advances.
Question yourself on this.
King John would not have signed the Magna Carta
had he not sought to stem the tide
of discontent and burgeoning anger.
Afro-Americans would still ride the back of the bus
had not the People risen up
overrun the obstacles
and cut a channel through unmoving stone.

The People are the water
and when dammed grow dark
and dirty.