Paranoia
Thursday, July 3, 2025
I wrote this poem circa 2005, about 20 years ago. Normally, I wouldn’t care too much about something written ages ago, but I make an exception for poetry when it has continued to resonate with me at a deeper level. To me, each poem feels like an emotion that is frozen in time… The operative theme that I ascribe to Paranoia is ‘cynicism…but justified’.
- You think you know the way of the world,
- You build your castle of silver and gold,
- In your marble tower you proudly stand,
- And smile upon your kingdom, your land.
- It isn’t so, it isn’t so —
- You do not see the unseen foe,
- There is no stone to hold your fort,
- You have no gun, you have no moat.
- They have no need for dagger or gun,
- They come with hate, not joy, not fun,
- They come to pull you down to the earth,
- To snatch your joy and kill your mirth.
- They come, they come — do you not see?
- This is no place for you to be!
- Run my friend — find a safe spot!
- I shall keep them at bay, no matter what!
- I see you running, keep going, my friend —
- Safety you will find beyond the riverbend.
- Till then I will fight these monsters of hate,
- Fear not for me! Find haven and wait!
- Now that you’re gone, I cast off this mask —
- For indeed I am finished with my task.
- I climb up the tower, this kingdom is mine,
- The food is exquisite, and so is the wine.
- You ask why I lied, maledict me you may —
- You know the way of the world you say.
- When you saved your self, precious though it be,
- Why did you not stay — at least for me?