As the World Turns ... Upside Down

TURNING MASLOW'S HIERARCHY ON ITS HEAD

 If there is a correct way through this human maze of seemingly endless dead ends

   where up is often down, and down is likely right there where self-actualization,

     whatever that might be, belongs, if it belongs anywhere, right at the base of  

       the pyramid, as the closest we ever come to “inner potential” is in the 1st

        moments after we’re born, umbilical cord cut, APGAR score recorded,

          nothing more or less than who we might ever be, too soon skipping

             blithely up one level to that pre-k class of learning to survive the

               first loss of self-esteem, rising then, year after year into middle

                 school lessons about love and belonging being most avail-

                   able to those who are attractive & athletic ... information

                     we’ll need to deal with the myriad cruelties to over-

                       come in high school and beyond, where (if-if-if-if

                         we’re lucky) we might catch a fleeting glimpse

                           into how everyone on this spinning planet is

                             barely holding on for dear life against the

                               centrifugal forces, feet swept out as we

                                 soar to the ultimate stage of human

                                  development, where all meaning

                                    is found in securing food water

                                      shelter for those who need us

                                        to nurture & protect them

                                          against liars & politicians

                                             & all others who gen-

                                               uflect at the altar

of a small and

                                                     ever fear-

                                            ful hu-

man

                                             mind

SL, Port Royal, SC, March, 2025