SEARCHING FOR DEMOCRACY

I went out searching for Democracy.
I went to the village Wise One, and she said:
Look under the rocks where the scorpions hide
for it is a hard thing and bitter, though it beckons
with sweet words in the mouths of fools.

I went to the Sage of the River and he said:
you cannot step into the same river twice;
so it is with this word, whose meaning
is a chameleon's coloring-a flag waving,
not an idea understood.

I went to the Books of the Masters
and they bid me beware
of citations and commentaries,
lost songs and music--
vipers devouring whole peoples.

I went to the Hall of Mirrors
and men of bearing bore down
in echo chambers and the halls resounded
with men of bearing baring
and they said: It is easy ...

apple pie-easy, pay as you go,
keep paying, once in a while
get up and vote
for one of our choices; then you may sleep
the sleep of the just, watch TV, go with the flow.

"What will it cost?"
Less than a smidgeon--
your son or your daughter, your right arm,
taken in installments, year after year ...
Go on with your life.

"The price is too--"
It's that or your life!
You're Widdus or Widdem.
You can't shilly-shally.
Everything's changed.

Outside, people gathered in batallions; the honor guard
swirled shiny weapons; holy men sprinkled water.
(There was even a cage for public dissenters.)
And the newsmen said: Such uniformity,
in Democracy's name, had never been seen.