Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash
In this poem, I use the old language of patriarchy intentionally. I do consider the male of the species to be a pernicious problem currently—possibly throughout all history. It’s possible that if women held the power of men they’d mess things up too. But that’s only a thought experiment. The evidence is weighted toward the problem of patriarchy.
Withered grass
broken glass
wars between race and class;
Man’s a ruinous
presence on the Earth.
I sleep and dream
of the benevolence of Man.
But when I wake
the hope is dashed,
a foolish fantasy.
If only men were more benign
and not so blind
to the mad malevolence of Man.