The Unenlightenment
What name will we give, years from now,
to this time we’re living through?
It’s no Renaissance, no Enlightenment,
no Terror nor Civil War nor Cold War
though the jury’s still out. Nothing
with gate as a suffix-—coverups are so
20th century. Everything’s in the open now,
the neighbors saying stuff out loud
we hoped they’d keep to themselves.
Every step we take might be off a cliff
into an abyss. Something’s changed;
live-&-let-live is out on its ass. Or maybe
this is who we always were but didn’t name it.
Maybe we’re cruel & just don’t know it.
42 thoughts on "The Unenlightenment"
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Superb!!!
The quick-list hits and it ponders
All they way to the maybe,maybe.
Concise, clear and sublime.
I hear your voice in every word.
Pro!!
Thanks Coleman! You’re becoming a good analyst of poetry like Gaby. High praise, that.
Amazing write, Kevin. This poem addresses what we’re living through so well. I especially love
“Nothing
with gate as a suffix-—coverups are so
20th century. Everything’s in the open now,
the neighbors saying things out loud
we hoped they’d keep to themselves. “
Thanks, H.A.!
I like the notion of imagining how we’ll go down in history. I remember what a priest told me when I left for college: “Keep the faith.” How else are we supposed to go on.
Exactly, Gaby. Writing and reading poems helps.
Remarkable.
It’s not an easy era. But I’m glad we’re all poets in it together.
Just so, Tabitha.
Indeed. Even if you call it mass psychosis, giving it a name doesn’t make it any less real or free us from its magnetic field.
Too true. Whatever they end up calling it, it might be too late for you and me.
Terribly sad and well done
Thanks RJ.
Bingo.
Thanks Linda!
That Linda Bryant-Davis is such a wordsmith.
Ain’t she though?
Even the Christians are cruel, now.
Some of them, yes.
Right on target.
Thanks Wayne.
Terrific piece, Kevin. A broadsword slashing of our times. Worthy of the Colosseum. Encompassing and furious. Well done.
Thanks Jules! I tried to be fair, if such a thing exists.
Yessss….”the neighbors saying stuff out loud
we hoped they’d keep to themselves.”
Chilling: “Or maybe/this is who we always were but didn’t name it.”
Thanks Pam.
Sad. Sublime. Yes, I do think what we’ve become is what we always were. Sure, of course, there’s good in the world. But, I tend to now believe that evil is actually winning. I honestly do not care any longer if other people think drastically different than I do, or even if they speak those things outloud. It can not trigger me. I will continue to be the best I can be, leave a legacy of thoughtfulness, and read wonderful poetry, such as yours!
Thanks, Winter! I agree with you that evil seems to be winning these days, but I’m hopeful that that will change. We’ll see.
Poets have always embraced and reflected on the times in which they lived. Thanks for carrying on the tradition! The mirror is a cruel tool. And you, sir, are a steely-eyed missile man.
Thanks, Sylvia! Not sure about that missile man thing but hey, I’ll take it.
I especially love the ending of this – the not knowing, but going on. I fear there might not be a name for this era if there’s no one to say the name out loud . . .
Yep
Well done, Kevin. I’m sure historians will eventually name this hell. Your title, “The Unenlightenment” pretty well says it.
Thanks, Karen!
I read about the ‘Age of Influence’ somewhere, and I thought that was a pretty good take. Great write-up, Kevin!
Thanks Jeremy! I’m so impressed by your work this year.
Yes, this nails it, unfortunately. This line breaks my heart, but I suspect it’s true: “maybe/ this is who we always were but didn’t name it. “
Thanks Ellen.
So much truth. Love the closing thought.
Thanks Bill.
I’ve been trying to figure out the exact same thing lately, Kevin. Unenlightenment would be perfect. Really liked this one, thank you for sharing!!
Thanks Sarah!
This is how I feel every day
Thanks River. I still have faith in the future, somehow.