woe unto the dreamers!
for they invoke hope among the hopeless
and
woe unto the seers!
who find light in the darkness
and
woe unto the women!
for bearing the weight of the future
when they deem themselves strongest
and
woe unto the slaves!
for reaching out to their masters with empty hands bloodied

for safety is clipped wings
and freedom is hushed voices,
knowledge is confusion
and vision is to discern from identical choices,
while wealth is the burden so generously borne by so few

in the republic.