Living Madrigal

The people said, "We have hope and fear. Save us from them." And the people created a spirit, a god, and threw him around in many guises.

The politician took the god and trapped it in his briefcase.

The politician said, "Here is my Ambition. Accept it and live in my dream for me." And he cast a net wide over the people, smothering their voices.

The man and the woman lived under the enveloping net without discomfort.

The man said, "This is my Confusion. I am tired of carrying it. Come and share it with me." And the woman stepped into his world of confusion.

The two had a child, and wrapped it securely in the threads of their ideas.

The woman said, "This is my Pain. Take it from me and feel it." And she handed the child her ball of pain.

The man said, "I have created Reality. Close your doors and live in it." And he closed the door of his box of reality and gave it to the child.

The child blinked at his parents in the darkness.

The child said, "I do not want your pain, but I will bear it. I do not want your reality, but I will carry it. Because you are my parents and this is my world." And the child trudged on through time, weighted down by the heavy ball and the cumbersome box.

Crisis stepped on to the path in front of the child and saw his burdens. She put her hands on his shoulders.

Crisis said, "I can see your load is heavy and too much for you. Feel my weight, and drop all that you carry." And she leant on the child until his arms gave way.

The child stared at the box and ball on the ground, and looked into the face of Crisis, which was fearsome and beautiful.

The child said, "I have hope and fear. Save me from them." And the child created a spirit, a god, and threw it around in many guises.

And the politician took the god and trapped it in his briefcase.