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The History of Now

  The recording of culture is history; but our culture is more than that. It's the world of human action, and the myths we make of the fact.  The recording of history is culture, but our history is more than that. It informs a hidden agenda. Unconscious of motive we act.  It's the history of now, the history of now. It's only the present that exists as endowed. It's the history of now. The moment - KAPOW! That knocks you right over and muddies your brow.  Through the prism of language, we know what we know. We carry our baggage and stories of woe. Victor and vanquished pride cannot budge, the dead weight of hatred and ancestral grudge.  We fight our good fights with our hand on our heart; the music is swelling as loved ones depart. As sheep to the slaughter, the script cannot chart, a course more ignoble: the propagandist's art.  The recording of history is culture, but our culture is more than that. More than the great individuals, the scholars so love in their tracts.  The recording of culture is history; but our history is more than that. Not simple dates or statistics, the full horror and gore still attracts.  It's the history of now, the history of now. A strange contradiction that makes sense somehow. It's the history of now, a mystery and shroud. The past and the future: best fiction allowed. 
— Australad, May 29, 2010

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About the Author

Country/Region: AUS

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Critiques

xena465

xena465

16 years ago

Welcome to Neo Australad

This is great and so true. I think you'll be a great addition to our little family...smashing stuff. Rosina xena465
Seren

Seren

16 years ago

Dear Australad

well written Solid first post welcome to neopoet ... good to see another aussie land on the shore of Neopoet ... If you have any questions or problems dont hesitate to ask kind regards JayCee ("Quote:-For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it.-Ivan Panin")
A

Australad

16 years ago

Non delivery of my reply

Dear Seren, A few days ago I sent you a response to your private missive which I find has entirely disappeared from my email account, Can you send it again as I don't have any record of your first message and so can't resend my original response which I now believe failed to get to you! Anyway I thank you for your kind words! Best regards David Smith-White
S

scribbler

16 years ago

history of now

welcome to the asylum.Always good to see another"classic"poet enter the fray ha!ha!Makes one wonder what history would be if written by the vanquished.......scribbler
A

Australad

16 years ago

The History of Now

Thank you Scribbler. I'm not sure what the 'fray' is precisely, but I'd be happy to enter it (guided by your excellent advice) asap! Best Wishes, David.
weirdelf

weirdelf

15 years 11 months ago

ah, masterwordcrafter, so good to see you mate,

sorry it's taken such a long time to get to your works, you know what's been happening for me. Love this piece, intelligent, thoughtful and beautifully wrought. My only crit is that that last line feels a bit weak, a bit of a let down, perhaps something with more chutzpah. Cheers, Jess, Reprehensibly irrepressible,