The gentle have begun among us
working slow magic like the growing of roots,
deep magic like the flowing of blood or traffic.
The only thing that stands between them
and complete world domination
is the illusion that there is something
going on here besides naked apes and stuff.
It’s the dazzling varieties of stuff,
the infinite kinds of stuff everywhere on display
though mostly out of reach, that makes
the apes in charge seem invincible.
They have nearly everything, and the meek
believe that that makes a difference.
Surrounded by rooms of furniture,
by exquisite clothing, jewels, flowers,
by underlings to satisfy any whim,
with powers of life and death over other people,
the rulers are well defended.
But the meek have numbers. One day the meek will notice.
And then it will all be over in the twinkling of an eye.
They are meek, not stupid.
And they have already begun.