In the Beginning...

In the beginning,
there was a world without words
just tigers and birds
monkeys and bison herds

Then came the barbarians
worshipping a thousand exclusive Gods
in a thousand different ways,
sacrificing sheep and humans
or just killing the latter for sport
on the way to church

They dressed themselves
in armour or monks' or scholars' robes:
the world was new
full of virgin forests
and the fresh promise of poetry and humanity,

and their stories were told
in primitive old fables like Eden:
the best men sacrificed themselves
for this or that half-cocked idea,
leaving behind a cock
or a parting haiku

Then came the imperial age,
the enlightenment,
the industrial revolution,
the world wars,
the hippies and the yuppies,
the spiritual space-age where
people can choose their chakra:
digital effects with boring loud ideas
or artistic communities of hippies
(make a selection please)

And thus the barbarian
gave way to modern man,
truly learned modest and aware,
politically correct but with a deep rebellious streak
(the barbarian always lurking somewhere inside)

The modern thinker stirs his green tea
and looks at you suave as can be:
no primitive fables but scientific philosophy,
he can tell you about a hundred countries
or compare the last 100 famous or literary movies
politically, economically, or satirically

There isn't a lot that he won't know:
he'll be subtle and modest and raring to go;
If "God" speaks of the apple (that's "thunder" he'll know)
he's even sincere and will tell you so, but...

(maybe it's me I don't know)
it may all ring a little hollow