The Shadow in All Social Scenes

What’s will is irrelevant—
Free, costly, or nonexistent.
All you really care about

Is whether you can do what
You want to do and whether
You can blame other people

For doing as they wanted.
A vote for will’s a yes vote—
Yes, you can; yes, you can blame—

Which feels good, significant,
Except when you’re being blamed.
You wouldn’t care about will,

Poor will, if it weren’t that will
Had implications for blame,
And you should care about blame,

Since it’s dangerous, a blade
In your own hands or others’,
And when the will is invoked

Or denied you can be sure
The question of blame’s engaged,
And at least one soul’s at risk.

The other, happier side
Of will—the dream you can will
What you want, achieve your dream—

Is a little less toothy.
Oh, look what a strong-willed life
You’ve led! Look what you can do!

Careful, however. You know
The shadow of intention
Deepens culpability.