Canto XX

Canto XX

The Old Man

Part II (The Present)

Our bravest moments are always those unwatched by others, unheeded by the mass of mankind that proclaims such titles of respect. So little attention is paid subtlety, much less that not extolled over and over again by those suited to flattery.

Now, however, the negative aspect issues forth...that prescribed to attribute motive and denigrate the uncomfortable truth. Ahh, yes, attributing motive, the refuge of cons and cowards constantly seeking fault with their betters to confuse the truth even farther from the mark than where lying governments have misplaced it.

He had reached a new resolve. This last high school reunion, the fortieth, led to it.

He would tell them all what he really did, what he had done now these last near forty years.

"I", he said, resigned to it, "do contract work for think tanks. I have the only job left

where I must be furnished with the truth to effectively work."

They were curious, "think tanks?" "Yes, like Rand, Westinghouse, The Ford Foundation, the Company." There weren't many questions following that. The small talk resumed.

But he had cracked the ice, the ice entombing him to a form of endless decay.

For it had not been enough just to back up whistle-blowers when they came forth to tell truths so few were prepared to hear. He must open up some "avenues" himself.

Equational Zero

Can a thing be so astute,

merely uttering it settles the matter?

Placing cross-hairs on a target perfectly

enough

The shot is unnecessary?

Indeed, virtue set with clarity is just

that...

And Equational Zero IS the last departure point.

It is how far we can go as we are as inevitability. 

Copyright June 2002 James C. Horak