Tug Dumbly # 17 - Renaissance

We pine to be rebirthed like stolen cars

because we deserve it.

(‘Deserve’s got nothing to do with it’.

William Munny, blowing away     

Sheriff Little Bob in Unforgiven).

We’re greedy for identity,

if not by theft then legally,

to become the sum of our shopped for selves

all that murderous choice,

all that toothpaste

avalanching from the shelves.

It’s exhausting, this chain gang

chipping at rock to find your voice.

Be nice to just say ‘no. My Authentic Self

fled years ago. Last I saw he kicked in a window

and bounded across the asylum paddock

yodelling into the trees.

I like to think he’s still out there,

living off roasted Quoll, happy’.

  

But ‘no!’ they say, ‘you must seek

and distil your destined stock

strain the essence to a primal broth

through a stocking of gold brocade

reduced to a thin clear soup of you.

Once you got that you got it made.