44 Comments
User's avatar
Eugene K's avatar

I’ll definitely come back to this much needed piece of writing again. I really appreciate the Henry Miller quote. Reading Tropic of Capricorn decades ago radically changed the way I thought about society, humanity, life--everything.

Expand full comment
Uma Jagwani's avatar

This piece is profoundly forthright and it deeply resonated with me. In the pursuit of being an artist and writer, detaching from the illusions of society is essential. You put together an amazing collection of quotes from brilliant thinkers, which I now will refer to in the future when I inevitably forget or doubt myself. Thanks for sharing.

Expand full comment
Kanwal Rehman's avatar

Beautifully written, thank you for this brilliant piece of writing! You’ve penned down all the thoughts I’ve been having for so many years now. The need to step away from this decaying caricature of a society and back to our roots is more important now than ever.

Expand full comment
Poetic Outlaws's avatar

Appreciate you my friend!

Expand full comment
Hungry for Sound's avatar

Never truer than now

Expand full comment
Feasts and Fables's avatar

Excellent writing. One I’ll be saving for a re-read!

Expand full comment
Danette Quartey's avatar

Thank you for writing and sharing this beautifully spot on piece. I hope I'll be able to find a way to save it as this will be a constant reminder, and reference when I ponder the place of the creative soul in the grind culture.

Expand full comment
Maha's avatar

An extraordinary piece of important writing. Thought-provoking and beautifully wrought.

Expand full comment
Poetic Outlaws's avatar

Thank you so much for reading.

Expand full comment
Patris's avatar

Sending this to one of the most committed urban explorers I know. I am one too. Yet this resonates deeply and I know that having been on a ship mid-Atlantic years ago connected me to myself more than I know.

Expand full comment
Christopher Gage's avatar

“I must CREATE a system, or be enslaved by another man’s.”

A long time ago, I pinned that on my desk. Alongside: "I must go home periodically to renew my sense of horror."

You get it.

Expand full comment
I Read This Over Shabbos's avatar

Fantastic piece... thank you

Expand full comment
marilyn dyck's avatar

Thank you Thank you Erik…

I have inhaled this piece and will reread again and again.

I will also share with my grandson who is experiencing the angst of being 20 in this world…

Expand full comment
Poetic Outlaws's avatar

Thank you so much!

Expand full comment
Rob DePaolo's avatar

Beautifully written. This speaks volumes of truth on so many levels. Thank you for the reminder to put everything down and spend more time with the natural world. Funny how nothing in nature ever feels messy or out of place. We reserve those sort of judgements for the human-crafted spaces we dwell in. 🙏☺️

Expand full comment
Poetic Outlaws's avatar

Thank you Rob!

Expand full comment
appleton king's avatar

better than any therapy right (and tight) here

Expand full comment
Robert Deshaies II's avatar

After teaching a literary theory course on every single one of these profound thinkers, I can advise you that this essay is worth your time and consideration. Awesome.

Expand full comment
Mr. Raven's avatar

I moved to a county with no traffic lights and many bears 5 years ago. Best move I ever made.

Expand full comment
Dian Parker's avatar

Yes, this resounds. Thank you. The obvious unobvious - the thing we are destroying is what will save us.

I'd like to add, humbly, that society is made up of individuals, like you - beautiful thoughtful beings. There are many.

Thank you for this. Well written and thought through.

Expand full comment
Poetic Outlaws's avatar

Thank you so much for reading!

Expand full comment
Buddy S.'s avatar

Thank you for this writing, it resonates with me and I hope to all who take a moment to read.

Expand full comment
Poetic Outlaws's avatar

Thanks friend!

Expand full comment