Civilisation

The myth
Underlying assumption
Of civility, civilisation
City or a nation
States

That
The individual belongs to
Is a part of
Something

That something
An abstraction —
Precedes
Exists before, outside of
The individual

This myth, simultaneously
Conjures
An individual
And concretises the abstraction — city —
Nation, civilisation
As actual, real
Existent

Without this myth
What exists
Is community — not as abstraction —
But nature

Where individuals — organisms —
Engage, interact
Naturally

Secured
In holes, nests, caves
Without curtains
Between, among
Around them

Uncurtailed
From nature
Community

Toiletting, showering
Undressing, sexing, masturbating
Farting, sneezing, suffering
Dying

Unappropriated
Unregulated, uncivilised
Unprivatised or unondemned

And installed
Within the organism
As operating principle
Of shame
And privacy

Making every aspect, each sight
Of an organism’s anatomy
Its every conceivable activity
A fetish — something —
To sanitise, hide
Take pride in
Or be shamed about

From hair, to toenails
Nipples, breasts, bellies
Genitals
Skin

Saliva, faeces
And blood

All cordoned, behind curtains
Curtailed — walled
Cut off
Fetishised — privatised

By the abstraction — civilisation —
City, nation, culture
Country, religion
Family

All
In opposition
To community

While assuming
Its role

Wearing
Its name