Natural History

And then there's that tenderest of kind
and gentle, well-meaning urban legends
that has us nodding our heads in general
agreement that all men are created equal.
A myth reborn, not quite as ancient as
the human construct of a benevolent spirit
whose purpose is to glance down from the
heavens above at his creation, all that
exists with the crowning creation needless
to say that of humankind. Toward which
a hand-me-down set of civilized rules by
which to govern ourselves both singly
and collectively has pacified the beast
within on occasion while on other occasions
that beast has glorified barbaric mass
slaughter a dedicated sacrifice to that god
who himself from time to time reverts to
savagery. As for the pious assertion of
equality among men, it is but that, an
assertion of good will lacking evidence as
science requires for nature has produced a
vast offspring of amazing differentiation
endowing some with clearly superior assets
while others languish, their endowments
beyond modest. The conclusion is one of
nuanced intention in hopes of forming the
best of all possible worlds to correct a critical
balance that god has neglected, and to offer
to the unequally endowed opportunities so
readily available to those naturally gravitating
to entitlement. Yet even there failure blooms
eternal for we are but creatures of imperfect
dimensions -- on the one hand willing and
ob the other temperamentally disinclined.