Sunday, March 8, 2009

Some Definitions

Oklachusetts. Part plain, part coast. A hybrid land. Neither red nor blue. Purple. A state of suspension, inhabitants emulsified between poles. Yankee and Okie, pilgrim and pioneer forever on the frontier. This land is a theshhold, a liminal zone.

We hereby adopt Keats's term "Negative Capability," from his letter of Sunday, December 21, 1817, as our state motto: "Negative Capability, that is, when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason."

To be in Oklachusetts is to be in uncertainty, mystery, or doubt. This is a positive condition.

When we negate, we shun ideology and ideologues. Our only ideology is non-ideology; we do not cling to it absolutely. We float, but recognize that at any time we may sink.

Oklachusetts is a state of mind. It is fragile, and it knows no boundaries. We have many citizens, all of whom, like us, forever consider emigrating. It would be easier to live in Oklahoma or Massachusetts.

Easier, but not better.

2 comments:

dax said...

Preach it, brother.

I am in a constant state of emigration.

Unknown said...

While it's Keats you allude to, Whitman's your man in style, grace, and scope.