Ideologists are obsessed with the idea that there is some sort of endgame to whatever problem they are ostensibly working to fight against. Feminists believe that their problems will be over when the patriarchy collapses, and racists think that if whatever particular race they happen to support were in control of everything, there’d be no problems. The sad truth is this: throughout human history, across the planet just about every combination of people (in terms of race, gender, ideology etc.) have been in some significant position of power, and the only thing that was true of all those eras, all those situations is this: people are shitty to other people. That’s the way it is, the way it has been, the way it will be. The only path forward for you, as just one human being, is to try and not be shitty to other people. That’s the only thing you can do. Put down your arms. Give up your ideology. It will inevitably cause you to be shitty to another person you’ve never met at some point down the line. Stop fighting for whatever cause you believe in. Stop everything your doing, as a matter of fact. Just don’t be shitty to strangers, and don’t be shitty to people you know either. It’s the best thing you’ll ever accomplish.

I’m going back to bed now,
but first I remember wanting to say:
the other parts of this world
the natural ones
will split you open and suck
out your insides like
steamed crab.
And so when you touch the bark
of a tall silent tree
you’re not even close.