Paradise Lost
our country as an epic poem written over 350 years ago
Paradise Lost is an epic poem by John Milton. It was originally published in ten books in 1667 but by 1674 was expanded to twelve. It depicts the biblical story of the Fall of Man, focusing on Satan’s rebellion, the temptation of Adam and Eve, and the expulsion from the Garden of Eden. It is considered one of the greatest works in English literature, exploring themes of free will, obedience, pride, and the struggle between good and evil
Our current country, Earth, and the political climate is filled with those who worship power, not leadership. Those who would sacrifice democracy for autocracy. Those who would rape the earth, the climate, and our futures to make money and have power. Those who will never change their minds; their minds are incapable of being changed because they are blindly correct. Those who would rather rule in Hell, than be equal in Heaven. Those who think they know God’s intent and their arrogance demonstrates their fear. Those who think they know heaven, but create hell. Those who would rather live in that Hell than admit they are wrong. Those who would try to create an alternate reality where they are right in order to have more join them in their cult because they have already destroyed so much, they have nothing left to lose. Welcome to 1667, or 2026. Welcome to Paradise Lost.
Be careful of whom you worship, whose power, whose autocracy, whose life you wish to emulate. What we sell for power, for wealth, and for status can never be regained.
Book 1, verses 221–270.
Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime,
Said then the lost Arch-Angel, this the seat
That we must change for Heav’n, this mournful gloom
For that celestial light? Be it so, since he
Who now is Sovran can dispose and bid
What shall be right: fardest from him is best
Whom reason hath equald, force hath made supream
Above his equals.*
Is this our country, our soil, this political climate,
said Satan, is this the place
we must exchange for Heaven, this dark place
for that celestial light? So be it, since God
who is sovereign can decide
what is correct: farthest from him is best
whose omnipotence and power have made supreme
above all.**
We ask these questions about our democracy, our leaders, who distance themselves from moral fiber only to give allegiance to their own darkness.***
Farewel happy Fields
Where Joy for ever dwells: Hail horrours, hail
Infernal world, and thou profoundest Hell
Receive thy new Possessor: One who brings
A mind not to be chang’d by Place or Time.
Farewell beautiful, blooming fields
where joy dwells: Hail horrors, hail
the infernal world. Profound Hell
receive thy new ruler: One who brings
a mind that cannot be changed by that which surrounds.
Let us sacrifice the earth. Let us bathe ourselves in the filth of our own arrogance. Let us turn this beautiful planet into a seething inferno of death.
The mind is its own place, and in it self
Can make a Heav’n of Hell, a Hell of Heav’n.
Our minds create our own reality
and we make heavens of hell, and hells of heaven.
In our confusion, we think we are correct. We think freedom is hell. We think control is absolute.
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What matter where, if I be still the same,
And what I should be, all but less then he
Whom Thunder hath made greater?
Who wants to remain in a place
where I will always be less
than God?
Women are lesser. Black and brown people are lesser. Christ was brown, he is lesser, so let us elevate ourselves above God, and make him white.
Here at least
We shall be free; th’ Almighty hath not built
Here for his envy, will not drive us hence:
Here we may reign secure, and in my choyce
To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav’n.
In Hell, at least,
we shall be free because God did not build Hell
And God cannot drive us from Hell.
We can be all powerful here.
It is better to be powerful in hell
than equal in Heaven.
We would prefer to sacrifice all that is precious, all that is beautiful, all that is moral to obtain power.
But wherefore let we then our faithful friends,
Th’ associates and copartners of our loss
Lye thus astonisht on th’ oblivious Pool,
And call them not to share with us their part
In this unhappy Mansion, or once more
With rallied Arms to try what may be yet
Regaind in Heav’n, or what more lost in Hell?
So should we let our faithful friends know,
those we have left behind,
astonished,
and convince them to come to this place
so that we can conquer Heaven with our Hell because there is nothing left to lose?
So let us seduce those who think faith is believing in power that we think will save our sorry asses because we have become so entitled that we want everyone to suffer our ignorance, which has been fomented by the power structure.
Why? If you are male, why do you need to control women’s bodies? Why do you subscribe to sites like “Motherless” to feel false power? Why does the color of skin matter more than the color of flowers or the rainbow? Why do you look down and not stand beside. Why is your ego so fragile that you cannot look upon another and see their beauty. Why?
I cannot answer this question. Perhaps you can. I have run out of answers.
Paradise is not nostalgia. It is not what was. It is the striving for the everything every human can be.
*John Milton
**Cailleach Anam
***Points to ponder
