Why afraid of ebola? of terrorism?
of North Korea, Russia or United States?
of climate change or bankruptcy?
What’s really scary is the fear
and zealousness of golden keys
of shutting doors, of them and us.
of razor wired safety — inside.
But Mephistopheles still whispers
serpent’s words of simple truths,
excluding grey for black and white,
solutions serving to divide us into tribes.
Still when you listen to your heart
you hear his tempting voice, lulling you
to lock the doors and cock the guns
demand revenge, retaliate and hate.
Rebranding cowardice to bravery
Cause fertilized on growing fears
Mephistopheles will thrive inside,
and seal our faith in blood.
Faust and Mephistopheles by Odilon Redon
Kerry ask us to reflect on the past year and combine it with the Faust and Mephistopheles myths and stories at Real Toads. This is a favorite subject of mine, so I penned down some thoughts on that.
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December 18, 2014
Björn Rudbergs writings 
I really liked this – the excluding grey for black & white and the tribes bit… Great.
Yes.. that’s the scariest part…
Brilliant, Bjorn. You verbalized it all; our fears feeding on Mephistopheles whims and caprices!
Fear is our worst enemy…
Bjorn, It’s been said that civilization is a thin layer. I believe it. Under duress, people form tribal groups and build walls. Sad but true. — Suzanne
The sad thing is that we can be coerced to do it by real or even imaginary fears… so easy to manipulate through fear.
solutions serving to divide us into tribes…
The governance of the world seems to depend on creating and maintaining alienation between peoples, creeds and cultures. I’m sure it is to the benefit of the oligarchs, and divided we fall.
Yes.. and our little beast inside is all too easy to coerce to this…
that evil does lurk about all… i liked how you brought the serpent in… seems he shows up everywhere
The serpent and Mephistopheles are the same.. and alas he lives inside..
Hey Bjorn, a music in the madness here==the divisions are very hard to overcome, and there is an innate quality like a whisper. Thanks. k.
The closing of your first stanza makes a powerful point, Bjorn, and sets the tone for the entirety, I believe. Excellent and powerful writing.
Powerful poem here Bjorn – recapitulates a year of worry when perhaps conciliation would have given more peace. Your adroit handling of the subject is excellent as always. What a fine poet you are! Don’t know as I would send this as a birthday card though – well maybe to leaders or the world!
Ha. no this was not my birthday poem.. but I can see how it could work as one….
locking the doors… sometimes it seems the easiest thing to do – on second look though, it not only shuts people and sickness or war out but us in as well
And even within ourselves the serpent lives.. so we cannot shut him out..
Wow! You captured the climate we live in so well.
Thoughtful and adept writing, Björn.
“…still when you listen to your heart
you hear his tempting voice, lulling you
to lock the doors…”
Powerful imagery and difficult-times-made-poetry. Beautifully done.
One has to wonder if that old comedic expression: The Devil made me do it – got it right. The bizarre twists and turns the narrative of these times we live in, seems to take, leaves one wondering: If not the Devil . . . who . . . or what?