--- R O G E R   W O L F E

translated by Mark Ostrowski


They say that it is
one of the symptoms
of the end of the century
and the millennium.
Beliefs, convictions,
creeds and faiths
of the most variegated
and unusual stripe.
Sects.
Tribes.
Clubs.
Clans.
Societies.
Fraternities.
A return
to the obscurest
and most primitive atavism
before the purported
imminent threat
of the void.
Fanaticism.
Intolerance.
Old and new ways
to hide an ancient fear.
There are those who
are stricken by all of this.
For others the phenomenon
helps them
to keep filling
their mouths with trash
on television
or to ease the insomnia
of the shiftless, retired
and unemployed 
on talk-radio shows
that go deep
into the night.
And then there are also
those in the racket;
those that know
that nothing in this world
is as lucrative as fear,
and they exploit it.
As far as I am concerned,
let them get their rocks off.
The grand total
of all of our zealousness
is equal to zero.
But in any case
it isn't such a bad idea
that people
lock themselves in with dogmas and shams
like this.
Let them lock themselves in
wherever they please.
Assuming that they toss 
the goddamn key
far enough away from me 
and from any place around here.