the culture of the day

The cities only care for what is theirs

and uproot all that's in their path.

They crush the creatures like hollow sticks

and burn up nations like kindling.

Their people serve the culture of the day,

losing all balance and moderation,

calling their aimlessness progress,

driving recklessly where they once drove slow,

and with all that metal and glass

making such a racket.

It's as if they were under a spell:

they can no longer be themselves.

Money keeps growing, takes all their strength,

and empties them like a scouring wind,

while they wait for wine and poisonous passions

to spur them to fruitless occupations.

~ Rainer Maria Rilke

III,31, The Book of Poverty and Death
translation by Joanna Macy and Anita Barrows
photo by robert frank