Government

“Every nation gets the government it deserves.” – Joseph de Maistre

While this America settles in the mould of its vulgarity heavily thickening to empire,
And protest, only a bubble in the Molten Mass, pops and sighs out, and the mass hardens,

I sadly smiling remember that the flower fades to make fruit, the fruit rots to make earth.
Out of the mother; and through the spring exultances, ripeness and decadence; and home to the mother.

You making haste, haste on decay: not blameworthy; life is good, be it stubbornly long or suddenly
A mortal splendor: meteors are not needed less than mountains: shine perishing republic

But for my children, I would have them keep their distance from the thickening center; corruption
Never has been compulsory, when the cities lies at the monster’s feet there are left the mountains.

And boys, be in nothing so moderate as in love of man.  A clever servant, insufferable master.
There is a trap that catches noblest spirits, that caught they say ­ God, when he walked on Earth.

Robinson Jeffers  (1920)

And OK, i couldn’t find a recent photo of something rotten, so here’s an edible flower garnish plate put out at Stephen’s fourth of July garden party.