regression to the mean

a future that we dreamt of came to be
it was no paradise though it had graces
people acquired almost human faces
they thought themselves educated free
they celebrated their own jubilee
theirs was a world of open public spaces
it lacked our hidden dismal quiet places
it was the best on which all could agree
now what we feared most came to pass
our happy moment here was all too fleet
and older evils came once more to rule
the demons of power of race and class
the need to be insincere and discreet
we learn our lessons in a horrid school