not from, but by means of

when what contains is passed away

“The humankind has not liberated itself from servitude but by means of servitude.”

(G.W.F. Hegel, Lectures on the Philosophy of History)

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not from, but by means of

crouching behind the crumbling walls
of edifices once containing, containers for,
what moves and throbs and thrives -
prone, as ever, to hide;
compelled to repeat
the hiding -

crouching behind what is passing away,
the utter terror of what must be risked
holding the liver in a death-grip

eyes become only for darting
ears become only for twitching
hands become only for burrowing

when will the body learn
to take the risk of venturing?
what the mind knows
before the body does.
what is to come when what contains
is passed away