Shoulders of Giants

We stand on the shoulders of giants —

Those of us brave and bold
climb and scale 
the magnificent beasts,
the titans
of creation, innovation and wisdom.

The giants of civilization have left
indelible footprints
on our culture.
We’ve coasted on their tailwind
as they propelled us forward.

These gorgeous giants
are the pillars of society,
philosophy and the arts,
conflict and disturbance,
civility and humility.
They dastardly, daringly pushed the status quo —
embracing and shouldering and propelling
the slow shifting of paradigms.

They are terrific trampolines
and radical launchpads
for us to springboard and fly from.
They are meant to be catapults
for our freedom flight.

Like statues we look up to them
and marvel at their stature.
Like statues they become revered pillars,
columns on which civilization grows.
Like statues they are frozen in the greatness of time.
Like statues they crumble and fade
and become targets for pigeons
and canvases for street artists
and hang outs for juvenile recreation.
Like statues we — those of us brave and bold — must topple.

“Kill the Buddha” as some say.
Learn, sustain, destroy…
Repeat. 
We can become the visionary 
that they dreamed us to be.
We must be willing to risk the fall
to struggle and toil
learn and unlearn
as we ascend.
Do we conquer if we can? What if we do?
Can we see farther and further?
Is our summit a spectacular accomplishment? The vista more revealing?
Is it lonely up there?
Must we then make room for others to climb our backs?
Can we become Atlas for the next worldly giants?