During the 1940s the poet Philip Lamantia transitioned away from Surrealism
to “naturalistic” poetry rooted in spirituality and the mysticism that exists in
extraordinary experiences. Some of the subject matter became more sensuous
and sociopolitical, and an underlying theme is contempt for government and the
evil perpetrated in its name. One of his most overtly political poems, “A Simple
Answer to the Enemy” remains applicable today. It makes a case for dissent by
laying bare the corrupt agenda of a political order that dehumanizes the public
and erodes liberties. Lamantia endorses a revolutionary mindset that rejects
mechanistic thinking, aggression, and greed, and encourages us to embrace a
philosophy of love and the spirit of compassion
