A Poem Inspired By Sarah Feldman

I always assumed I would behave with just the right measure of pride and humility. This I will achieve with Socrates's aplomb and whatever else pertains to his bright Self. But the World itself is vexed: we live broken lives in the crumbling cities of a rotten society. Will this creative fire burning within reconcile me to loss and ruin. Such hopes were strong in my youth when everyone was an ally, even a friend, definitely a fellow journeyer. What concerns me now is the darkening web over the everyday, which renders everything and everyone hazy, unfocused, unreal. How can we find allies, or friends in such a crowd? How long will we strangers to each other?