Uncle Jazzbeau’s Gallimaufrey

shine, perishing republic

Well, the US presidential election is done and over with, and now we can all return to language, poetry, and a creeping malaise.

While this America settles in the mould of its vulgarity,
   heavily thickening to empire
And protest, only a bubble in the molten mass, pops and sighs out,
   and the mass hardens,
I sadly smiling remember that the flower fades to make fruit,
   the fruit rots to make earth.
Out of the mother; and through the spring exultances, ripeness
   and decadence; and home to the mother.

You making haste haste on decay: not blameworthy; life is good,
   be it stubbornly long or suddenly
A mortal splendor: meteors are not needed less than mountains:
   shine, perishing republic.
But for my children, I would have them keep their distance
   from the thickening center; corruption
Never has been compulsory, when the cities lie at the monster’s
   feet there are left the mountains.

And boys, be in nothing so moderate as in love of man,
   a clever servant, insufferable master.
There is the trap that catches noblest spirits, that caught—
   they say—God, when he walked on earth.

[Robinson Jeffers. Shine, Perishing Republic]