Mobs Rule

Mobs Rule

wolves
form packs
as people
form mobs
mobs
of ambiguous feelings
arising
from ambiguous values
and
ambiguous values
arising
from provoked
ambiguous feelings

we form mobs
like packs
for the safety
and survival
of our egos
we form mobs
for the solace
and protection
in the numbers
of our mobs

fragile egos
fragile feelings
fragile values
fragile meaning
fragile fears
needing the fortification
and validation
and affirmation
and justification
of our
mobs

we form packs
of values
from principles
and priorities
embedded in ancient texts
and ancient cultures
the centuries
a convenient 
stabilizing attachment
for some

we form mobs
of self-sufficiency
or egalitarianism
priorities
of feelings
arising
from a belief
in mysticism
or impiety
giving
value
priority
reverence
to mysticism
or else
pure materialism
or
eye for an eye
versus
turn the other cheek
or 
regression
for the sake
of stability
cowards
to the pioneers
of flirtation
with the potential 
wonders
of the unknown

we form packs
of feelings
about whose
values
priorities
and culture
is best
feelings
giving way to pliable rationales
about whose
amorphous feelings
are worth 
fighting 
for

we need mobs
with sages
and saviors
plucking our emotions
all the way down
to our values
we need leaders
and their mobs
to tell us
we're not alone
to convince us
we
like our saviors
are not fragile and weak
with our fragile feelings
and weak principles

our saviors
unite us
against other mobs
with different feelings
giving rise
to priorities
and values
and priorities
and values
giving rise
to feelings
other than
our own

what arises
out of them
different than ours
but ours
all
and always
the better
and worth
fighting for

our saviors
seam us
with other mobs
so their egos
like ours
like the eternal flame
survives
the thunderstorm
or the sacking of delphi
by roman 
marauders

we need leaders
plucking us
to louder
and lovelier tunes
than the other leaders
pluck
their
congregations
so our tune
plays loudest
drowning out the rest
to find the broadest
audience

to prevail
we need amplification
we need power
more power
than the other mobs
the power of money
brute force
and control
of the story

for power
we need saviors and sages
uniting
disparate mobs
with disparate values
copulating
passing
the communicable disease
tainting
whatever shallow
murky stream
of ideology
from hazy and babbling
to a raging
turbid torrent

this disease
giving rise 
to fever
from sepsis
these things
our saviors say
are the bonds
that unite us
under our flag
of contagion
with the fever
a fervor
that displaces
most of our fears
of being wrong
about
everything

this sickness
an exchange
of values
for power
the devil's bargain
of hazy feelings
and morals
cheaply bartered
for a slight
change of direction
making little difference
at short distance
but leading us
far astray
over murky
turbulent and turbid
seas

our values
and feelings
played
in a reversal of scale
plucked
and strummed
by the ones
seeking power
with their mobs
trailing behind
starved for a taste
of victory

the power hungry
strumming cords
blowing horns
drumming drums
of emotions
feelings
of hate and distrust
so loud
so potent
numbing us
to the simple tune of decency
we used
to hum