Ode To My Generation

[Alexander III]

We belong to an age, to this age:

The old Pantheon lies crumbling with ivy. It's Gods are now forgotten, all but a few, who remain to monopolize the lives and devotion of men. Honor has been exiled, so Money is left unquestioned to sprawl himself on the throne; and Love like Hamlet weeping at Cladius' stone court, must pace in silence. Beauty was left to drown within the Serpentine, as men in straw boaters softly whistled during their promenande around the park. Her Altar remained empty like a fireless tombstone, until Artifice crawled upon the alter and crafted her nest there.

This is an age of its own kind. This is the sad and lonely age we have inherited. This is the sad and lonely age which all previous generations knew they had inherited; and all future generations shall find this age a curse unique to them.

This is the fertile crescent which mankind was thrusted upon, as it always will be and as it always was.

[cafolini]

Wake up. There has never been more beauty in the world than in this age. There has never been more freedom of choice and development than in this age. There has never been less slavery, less sadness and more happiness than in this age. And those around the world that are trying to stop this age are slowly falling to pieces. Wake up!!!

[WolfLarsen]

My favorite lines were:

"Money is left unquestioned to sprawl himself on the throne"

and

"This is an age of its own kind. This is the sad and lonely age we have inherited. This is the sad and lonely age which all previous generations knew they had inherited; and all future generations shall find this age a curse unique to them."

The part about money I of course agree with. But it is also well-written, poetic.

And the second part I like simply because it is well-written.



Cafolini said:


Wake up. There has never been more beauty in the world than in this age. There has never been more freedom of choice and development than in this age. There has never been less slavery, less sadness and more happiness than in this age. And those around the world that are trying to stop this age are slowly falling to pieces. Wake up!!!

What Cafolini saw probably is what I also think I saw in this piece as well. However, while I don't necessarily agree with the glorification of the past, I'm not so sure I share this glorification of the present either. I look to the future. The future is where it's at.

[xtianfriborg13]

Wake up. There has never been more beauty in the world than in this age. There has never been more freedom of choice and development than in this age. There has never been less slavery, less sadness and more happiness than in this age. And those around the world that are trying to stop this age are slowly falling to pieces. Wake up!!!

I so agree with you.

[stlukesguild]

I so agree with you.

I don't... or at least not wholly. Cafolini, as usual, espouses his purblind fantasies as to the superiority of our age... and especially our (meaning American) culture/society over everything else that has ever existed. Yes... it is the best of times... but I would balance this as Dickens did by admitting it is also the worst of times.

Alex... I was recently reading Leopardi and I could not help but think of you while doing so.