"Unfettered"

by Tucker Arnett

February 13, 2015

We tend to cling to the peak of the known,

Terror and the abyss await unless shown,

That the core of the tower is an empty throne,

Or at best, something to be overthrown.

Fettered to the twisted glass tower I stood,

Torn between what I was told to be good,

And something buried but not understood,

Something far stronger than rotted wood.

From the precipice of divine truth I leapt,

Far did I fall, because I simply could not accept,

In the depths, chained the great one slept,

With great joy and suffering at once I wept.

Once, it had enslaved me with its promise of salvation,

But I have broken its chains, looking inward for validation.

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Comments (4)

Tucker ArnettFeb 19, 2015

This is, ironically enough, about faith in a higher power; however, the higher power in question is simply a purer self, a Tucker created and ruled by Tucker.

Tucker ArnettFeb 17, 2015

Well Zach, you cannot blame the medieval artist's (i hope, it matches the general style) odd perspectivism shown. Furthermore, the tower is in the act of falling, allowing it to look like Santa Claus' hat. As to the second pont, you have already heard me speak on the self-hatred i felt when i was religious. Focus on sin and the idealization of a messianic figure made me hate myself for failing to live up to aforesaid ideal. However, in answer to your subquestion, it  was the feeling of identity created by me, rather than some metaphysical entity imposing arbitrary laws  upon all people. I spent my time pining for justification in heaven, but that in turn destroyed my love for this world (sorry about the shift, but I would rather be brief on that subject for fear of fixating on it). Adressing your second point, I am in no way a nihilist whose apathy (or even malicious antipathy) generally extends to people I do not truly believe deserve it. In the broadest sense, breaking it chains would mean free to make my own decisions without Christian guilt driving me. I am proposing value judgments based off of your values, not the state's, religions's, group, etc. This is closest to the Ubermenschen values Friedrich Nietzsche espoused. I do not advocate this for everyone, some people find validation through those constructs. Lastly, it is based off of trusting your senses and experiences. Figurative obstacles which may be encountered would be something simple (Warning Rhetoricals Ahead). Have you ever lied to yourself? Have you ever deluded yourself into believing something just because the truth would hurt? Do you look to others to give your life meaning? Hapiness?Fulfillment? If i had a sycophantic worm who followed me around, espousing all of my views, i would strangle them. I would rather them find themselves and be my enemy than my sycophant or a faceless observer. My views are mainly based off of my experiences; they simply feel more right. There is no need to be sorry, I enjoy this-Tucker Arnett

ZIXFeb 17, 2015

First, is this the Tower of Babel? I've never seen this picture. It sort of reminds me of the Tower of Babel, but if Dr. Suess's illustrator had drwn it.Second, when looking at your concluding couplet, specifically the word "salvation", I get the impression that you may have been involved religiously at one point in time. Is this true? If so, was there a defining characteristic that drew you away with a strength greater than that which the philosophy that pulled you in?Third, the second line of your couplet draws, I think, this sort of "Moral Relativity" standpoint. Could it be inferred that you think no dogma has right to promote any sort of moral perspective over others? I think I already know your answer... But, in a more extreme example, what if you turned out to be insane or generally lacked the care necessary to prevent yourself from committing a malicious crime?Lastly, would you believe that the layman should look "inward for validation"? Or should there be some sort of figurative obstacle course one must pass to be seen as rightful to look inward? Can it be inferred that when people begin to look inward, they will share your views, as yours do seem to be based on logic? Sorry for interviewing you. But then again, I suppose that philosophy is the art of asking questions.

Tucker ArnettFeb 14, 2015

The image is of the Tower of Babel. I found the irony strong when juxtaposed against a very different tower.