At The End Of My Tether
H.G. Wells and myself have something in common at the end of the day.
“There is no way out or round or through.” - H.G. Wells.
H.G. Wells is, in the popular and public imagination, a science fiction writer championing the bright future of man and its conquering technology. However, few know the true story of his last days and how he turned against his own optimism - writing a little pamphlet (34 pages) titled - Mind At The End Of Its Tether.
It’s truly a personal summation of his real beliefs and determination that mankind doesn’t have a hope in hell of surviving long and will soon pass away into the ether. Wells doesn’t just rely on imagination and belief, Wells also dives into the paleontological evidence and record.
As I look at the world, with the little knowledge, evidence and forsight available - I agree with Wells wholeheartedly. We have no glorious future ahead. It will all come to a halt, not with a bang but with a whimper. So, I will just swing in my hammock and feel fortunate I most likely won’t have to witness it. You should too.
I wrote this poem after rereading Wells’ essay and thoughts.
At The End Of My Tether
It’s not hard
to sit here rocking
on life’s rotting axis
back ‘n forth
back ‘n forth,
nowhere to nowhere.
You finally give up
trying to fix
all the leaks
and just
get used to using
a bucket instead.
There is no better world.
Around the corner or in
a century or three.
There is no such thing as
justice, order, truth, paradise …
except by our own
dirty designs and standards.
It’s all rigged.
Better to rest rocking
back ‘n forth
nowhere to nowhere
and leave it for
the diseased dolphins
to climb out of the sea
and exact revenge
with their imaginary harpoons.