Vigil

VIGIL

"... implies watchfulness. Anyone trying
to attain perfection
is faced with various obstacles in life
which tend to sidetrack him or her. Here, therefore, I mean
watchfulness against elements that might be destructive--
from within or without "
There are forces that will move against you even though the world is yours. You must watch for them,
all says, even though you should not have to. They will move
in ways you will not know,
for you are pure, and their movement
is not as yours is, straight and direct, as you move
all ways through the world. Oh they will strike you
as you move to grow, they will knock you down,
they will kick you in the face and smile, they will have you understand
that the world is not yours, it is theirs they say, and you will not know why
they would have you die a
death like theirs, no, you will not come to
understand they, and they will keep at you. They will call you
their enemy, even though you know not
what an "enemy" is, you are not bent, you are straight,
straight and open to their blows, you cannot know
that they get their "kicks" that way, you go your own way
and it is good, it is only natural that you do, "I don't try
to set standards of perfection
for anyone else. I do feel
everyone does try to reach
his or her better self, his or her full potential, and what that consists of
depends on each individual. Whatever that goal is,
moving toward it does require vigilance." And you will watch for them,
you will be vigilant,
because you have to. You do what you have to. You are a meat creature
moving in the world. You can not lose,
because there are no more games to play,
and they can not win. You will move as you have to,
and they will move to stop you. You can not be stopped. They do not
know that, and they will move against you. Watch for them,
and help them. Turn them on, do not
turn on them. They are weak, and you are strong. They have the
world to lose. The world is yours. Move in it, and be strong. Yes. Be strong.

9 February 1967
7:00 am
(quotations from John Coltrane)

POEM BY JOHN SINCLAIR