Four years ago Ian Brown profiled Justin Trudeau in the Globe and Mail, and as a preamble quoted Henry Adams’ definition of politics. Adams wrote, “politics as a practice, whatever its professions, has always been the systematic organization of hatreds”. I don’t consider myself a political writer but immediately thought that Adams’ words made an excellent title that demanded a poem. Much has happened since it was plain old Stephen Harper we were worried about. Plus ca change, plus c’est le meme shit.
Henry Adams defined politics as “the systematic organization of hatreds”. The Systematic Organization of Hatreds Big words for a simple task. Look, one hand is your left hand, the other is right. Think of it as black and white, the one and ninety nine percent. On this side are folks like us. On that side are the way too or the not enough. You get the point. And any idiot will tell you might makes right! It’s what’s between us two that makes you the knucklehead. So talk to the hand and see if it likes what you’ve said. But wait… let us uncurl those fists, let the accusing finger drop. Observe ten digits, silver threads of complex thought, unfurl into ‘I don’t know’ or ‘come what may’, entwine to protect and cherish, come alive to flex and play, to touch in wordless bravery and say together we will find the way.