[New-Poetry] "Splendid Hegemonies"

[Halvard Johnson]

Splendid Hegemonies


Q:  What divides these from the others?
A:  With or without the threat of force.

Q:  Who dominates whom?
A:  Throughout history.

Q:  Can you say something about defining
       your marginalized heresies?
A:  Power is very rarely limited.

Q:  Was art power?
A:  That’s a matter of impression.

Q:  How do ideas become naturalized?
A:  In a richly exampled arena.

Q:  Who got power and legitimacy?
A:  Quite often they did so.

Q:  Please explain for us the capacity of
       domination.
A:  I’d be delighted.

Q:  Does something called an “I” exist?
A:  I’d certainly say so.

Q:  Who dictates the terms of trade?
A:  Local hegemons known as Ba.

Q:  Is there a legitimate threat of force?
A:  Hydraulic despots, for example.

Q:  Does a temple have doors at both ends?
A:  And why not, sir?

Q:  Can corrupt regimes pervert any theory?
A:  And why not, sir?

Q:  Take the concept of saintliness, for example.
A:  You seem to misunderstand me.

Q:  Can you distinguish for us between a “war of position”
       and a “war of movement”?
A:  I’ll make every effort to do so.

Q:  Bach’s Adagio in G, sir, who wrote it?
A:  Let me get back to you on that.

Q:  Is the power to limit auto-emissions
       the power to destroy?
A:  Rarely, despite its own problems.

Q:  How nicely you put it.
A:  Cultural superiority is on the wane.

Q:  Why does philosopical thought remain
       the exception?
A:  And why not, sir? I ask you.

Q:  Are we parochial? Do we fear the unknown?
A:  None but ourselves, sir, can free our minds,
       as Marley said.



Hal

"If you have liver disease, tell
your doctor."
            --TV drug commercial

Halvard Johnson
================
halvard at gmail.com
halvard at earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~halvard
http://entropyandme.blogspot.com
http://imageswithoutwords.blogspot.com
http://www.hamiltonstone.org