Well-known and many times published Llyn Clague, a Kendal resident, read the poem “Liberal Troglodyte” from his latest book at the gala Kendal New Year’s Eve celebration. He received many requests for copies, so we are happy to print it here.
Liberal Troglodyte
I live in a cave. I have hair on the backs of my hands. My eyebrows are bushy, my body stocky, and I’m a touch mulish. I am a liberal troglodyte.
I hark to the cry of JFK, Ich bin ein Berliner! and its spirit, if not the letter – “I am a jelly donut.” Across the Wall, I am one with you.
I look back to FDR, we have nothing to fear but fear itself, and the spirit of a new fairness, if not the letter, of give the little guy a better deal.
I reach further back, to JC, not as a savior for my person, but to the spirit, if not the letter, of blessed are the poor and loaves and fishes for the crowd.
I am a liberal troglodyte. Beady-eyed, jut-jawed, and proud, I am out of sync with the letter, and even more the spirit, of Don’t tax, don’t tread on, Me.
I walk with Walt Whitman, radical democrat, and hear again his barbaric yawp – By God! I will accept nothing which all cannot have their counterpart of on the same terms – the spirit, and the letter, of we are, en masse, as one.