One Hundred and Eighty Five

Then what is the answer?  Not to be deluded by dreams.
To know that great civilisations have broken down into violence
and their tyrants come, many times before.
When open violence appears, to avoid it with honor or choose the least ugly faction; these evils are essential.
To keep one’s own integrity, be merciful, and not be duped
by dreams of universal justice or happiness.  These dreams will not come true.
To know this, and know that however ugly the parts appear
the whole remains beautiful.  A severed hand
is an ugly thing, and a man dissevered from the earth and stars and his history - for contemplation or in fact - appears atrociously ugly.  Integrity is wholeness.  The greatest beauty is organic wholeness.  Love that, not man apart from that; or else you will share
man’s pitiful confusions,
and drown in despair when his days darken.