Friday, March 26, 2021

Fustigate ... Blow

Today’s word is “fustigate” ... to criticize harshly; castigate. (Dictionary.com)

Blow
The judgements are flying,
     from seas to shining seas.
There’s obligation to share every thought.
But this is not enough. From somewhere
     comes entitlement and surety,
The fine moral sense of righteousness,
     goodness, wisdom.
A view that one’s self is higher than
     all others. And from that mountaintop,
            everything is oh, so clear.
And so it comes ... the sound of superiority.
     In strident tones with fustigaton.
Calling for everyone to come to the
     same conclusion and to walk 
          in the same direction.
Never thinking that clarity comes
      in conversation and compromise.
Missing out on challenge and it’s
     mercies.
Clearing a path with the whirlwind 
     of one’s own mind.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2021

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